# Accident 20150704011909A: Piper PA-18-150, Carlbad, CA, July 4, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2015, 15:15 local time
- Place: Carlbad, CA
- Airport: Carlsbad
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9750° N, 117.6367° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9750&lon=-117.6367&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8075P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8075P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (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-18-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 420 total, 70 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR15CA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA207) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150704011909A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 4, 2015, AT APROXIMATELY 1210 PST, A PIPER PA-18-150, SERIAL NUMBER 18-8050, REGISTRATION NUMBER N8075P DEPARTED GILLESPIE FIELD, EL CAJON CA., AND TRAVELED ENROUTE TO PERFORM A BANNER TOWING OPERATION ALONG THE CARLSBAD CA SHORE LINE. THE PIC (PILOT IN COMMAND), ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS TRANSITIONING VFR NORTHBOUND THROUGH CRQ CLASS D AIRSPACE AT THE SHORELINE WEST OF THE FIELD. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, LOST ENGINE POWER AFTER APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS 15 MINUTES OF FLIGHT TIME AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND STATED THAT HE WOULD BE LANDING ON THE BEACH APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF CRQ AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFTUPON LANDING FLIPPED AFTER LANDING PARTIALLY IN WATER UPSIDE DOWN.

ON JULY 6, 2015, A SAN DIEGO FSDO INSPECTOR AND FAA IIC INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT WHICH WAS MOVED TO A JET SOURCE HANGER ON PALOMAR AIRPORT.THE INITIAL INSPECTION REVEALED THE FOLLOWING:

1. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE OFF POSITION

2. THE FUEL SITE GAUGE ON THE LEFT WING INDICATED EMPTY AND THE RIGHT WING SITE GAUAGE INDICATED FULL

3. NO FUEL WAS IN THE GASCOLATOR

ON JULY 7, 2015, AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PILOT WAS HELD IN THE SAN DIEGO FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE. THE PILOT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

-BEFORE DEPARTING KSEE FOR HIS BANNER TOW, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL WERE FILLED TO CAPACITY BY JET AIR FUEL. BOTH TANKS WERE INSPECTED AND SUMPED BY THE PILOT. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS SET IN THE LEFT TANK POSITION FOR THE DURATION OF AIRCRAFT OPERATION.

-THE AIRPLANE OPERATED  NORMALLY FOR 3 HOURS 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO LOSS OF ENGINE POWER

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR15CA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA207), Jul 4, 2015: Piper PA 18-150 (N8075P), Carlsbad, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to manage the fuel system properly during a banner tow operation resulting in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

## Other reports on N8075P (1)

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

- [Accident 19750610016459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750610016459A), Jun 10, 1975: Piper PA18150 (N8075P), Sparks, NV, Destroyed. Ip allowed acft to descend into grnd.

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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