# NTSB ANC01LA078: Piper PA-18-150, N6881B, Palmer, AK, June 29, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 29, 2001, 13:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.583332, -149.092498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5833&lon=-149.0925&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52628 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52628/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA078 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation due to the pilot's selection of an empty fuel tank during takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis The certificated private pilot, with one passenger aboard, was departing from a 800-feet long airstrip. A witness to the accident reported that just after takeoff the accident airplane's engine began to run rough and lose power. The witness said that it appeared that the pilot was trying to turn the airplane around in an attempt to return to the airstrip, and subsequently struck the surface of an open field next to the airstrip. An FAA airworthiness inspector from the local FSDO, traveled to the accident scene and examined the airplane. He reported that the airplane came to rest upright with the left wing still attached to the fuselage, but the right wing was torn from the airplane during the impact. Both wing fuel tanks remained intact and were not breached, and the fuel selector valve was selected to the right fuel tank. The right fuel tank was empty, but the left tank was approximately 2/3 full. The FAA inspector interviewed a neighbor that lives close to the accident airstrip who responded to the accident site, just after the accident. The neighbor stated that in the process of assisting rescue personnel, he moved the right wing away from the fuselage. In the process of moving the severed wing, he noted that the right wing fuel tank was empty, with no visible signs of postaccident spillage. While at the accident site an Alaska State Trooper removed the right wing fuel cap, and verified that the right wing fuel tank was empty. ## Factual narrative On June 29, 2001, about 1350 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N6881B, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing at a private airstrip located about 2 miles north of Palmer, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot, and the one passenger aboard, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the accident airstrip about 1349. A witness to the accident reported to the Alaska State Troopers that just after the accident airplane departed from the 800-feet long airstrip, the engine began to run rough and lose power. The witness said that it appeared that the pilot was trying to turn the airplane around in an attempt to return to the airstrip, and subsequently struck the surface of an open field next to the airstrip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office, traveled to the accident scene on June 29, and examined the airplane. He reported that the airplane came to rest upright with the left wing still attached to the fuselage, but the right wing was torn from the airplane during the impact. The FAA inspector noted that both wing fuel tanks remained intact and were not breached. He added that the left fuel tank appeared to be about 2/3 full, and the right tank was empty. The fuel selector valve was selected to the right fuel tank. The FAA inspector interviewed a neighbor that lives close to the accident airstrip who responded to the accident site, just after the accident. The neighbor stated that in conjunction with responding fire rescue personnel and Alaska State Troopers, he was one of first to reach the accident site. He reported that during the rescue attempts of the pilot and passenger, Fire Department personnel asked him to move the right wing away from the fuselage. In the process of moving the severed wing, he noted that the right wing fuel tank was empty, with no visible signs of postaccident spillage. While at the accident site an Alaska State Trooper removed the right wing fuel cap, and verified that the right wing fuel tank was empty. The pilot did not to submit a Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2). ## Aircraft - Registration: N6881B (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5068 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bernard E. Munyon - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, June 1, 2000 - Departed: PAQ, Palmer, AK - Destination: PAQ, Palmer, AK - Airport: runway 18, 800 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 120 total, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010629039899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010629039899A), Jun 29, 2001: Piper PA18A150, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Departure was from a private airstrip. Windsock indicated wind to be about 8 knots from the south. Shortly after takeoff the engine started running rough… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.