# Incident 20230729006619I: Piper PA-18-150, Hampton, NH, July 29, 2023

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 29, 2023, 12:20 local time
- Place: Hampton, NH
- Airport: Hampton Airfield
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: OJBJ
- Location: 42.9613° N, 70.8302° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at HAMPTON AIRFIELD (7B3), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9613&lon=-70.8302&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4890P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4890P) (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
- Pilot flight hours: 430 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230729006619I

## Narrative

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

PIPER PA-18 SERIAL NUMBER 187762, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, SUFFERED AN ENGINE FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 12:20 EST ON 29 JULY 2023. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO THE WATER SOME 50 YARDS OFF THE BEACH AT HAMPTON BEACH.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT IN COMMAND, HE HAD CONDUCTED ONE 30 MINUTE BANNER TOWING FLIGHT EARLIER IN THE DAY IN THE SAME AIRCRAFT AND HAD NOTED NO ANOMALIES. THE PILOT HAD APPROXIMATELY 430 HOURS TT AND SOME 100 HOURS IN TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT, PREDOMINANTLY IN THE PIPER PA-18. AT 1130, AFTER REFUELING AT HAMPTON AIRFIELD (7B3), THE PILOT TOOK OFF, PICKED UP ANOTHER BANNER AND PROCEEDED TOWARDS SEABROOK BEACH AT APPROXIMATELY 1000’. HE THEN TURNED NORTH, ANTICIPATING MAKING A RUN ALONG HAMPTON BEACH AT 600’. HE THEN HEARD A LOUD “BANG” AND IMMEDIATELY NOTED THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROP TO ZERO. FLYING AT THE BEST GLIDE SPEED, HE ATTEMPTED A RESTART BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PROPELLER WAS STATIONARY AT THIS POINT. HE ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRCRAFT FAR ENOUGH FROM THE BEACH TO POSE NO RISK TO BATHERS, BUT CLOSE ENOUGH TO ENSURE HELP WOULD BE AT HAND IF REQUIRED. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN IN A TAIL DOWN ATTITUDE AT VERY LOW SPEED, AND CAME TO REST WITH THE TAIL POINTING OUT OF THE WATER. THE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO HIS KNEES, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED AFTER BEING RIGHTED FROM ITS INVERTED FLOATING POSITION TO THE BEACH BY THE HAMPTON BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE, ASSISTED BY THE LIFEGUARDS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ESSENTIALLY INTACT AND WAS RESTING ON ITS OWN LANDING GEAR.

DAMAGE OF THE AIRPLANE IS DETERMINED TO BE MINOR.

## Other reports on N4890P (2)

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

- [Incident 20100915045569I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100915045569I), Sep 15, 2010: Piper PA-18-150 (N4890P), Fryeburg, ME, Minor damage. Upon touching down on a farmer's field (using a wheel landing technique), aircraft nosed over due to extremely soft soil.
- [Accident 19771215042859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771215042859A), Dec 15, 1977: Piper PA18150 (N4890P), Jeffersonville, GA, Destroyed

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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