# Incident 20090912025509I: Piper PA-18A 150, Dewey Beach, DE, September 12, 2009

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 12, 2009, 13:08 local time
- Place: Dewey Beach, DE
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.6957° N, 75.0752° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dewey Beach, DE, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6957&lon=-75.0752&mi=10
- Aircraft: N766WM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N766WM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18A 150 (registry code 7101837, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A 150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,651 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090912025509I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AT 1300 HOURS ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2009, WHILE FLYING SOUTH OVER DEWEY BEACH, DE DURING A BANNER TOW OPERATION AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1200 FEET, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER AFTER FLYING THREE HOURS INTO A FOUR-HOUR OPERATION.  THE PILOT REPORTED TAKING OFF WITH HIS FUEL SELECTOR IN THE MAIN LEFT TANK POSITION (18 GALLONS FULL), THEN SWITCHED THE SELECTOR TO THE RIGHT TANK POSITION (TWO INTERCONNECTED 18 GALLON TANKS) UPON REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF 1200 FEET.  AFTER ABOUT THREE HOURS INTO THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER.  WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED, HE SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE RIGHT TANK TO THE LEFT TANK.  HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE STARTER, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START.  HE THEN RELEASED THE BANNER AND PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A NARROW STRIP OF BEACH ON THE EAST SIDE OF REHOBETH BAY.  THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON THE SAND AND FLIPPED OVER UPON MAKING CONTACT WITH THE WATER.  THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT SUSTAIN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## Other reports on N766WM (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20170623006909I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170623006909I), Jun 23, 2017: Piper PA-18A 150 (N766WM), Bishopville, MD, No damage. The pilot was towing a large banner for 3 hours. Normally this left him a 30 to 40 minute fuel reserve after landing. The turbulence caused by the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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