# NTSB ANC08LA078: Piper PA-18-150, N3236P, Iliamna, AK, June 24, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 24, 2008, 09:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Iliamna, AK - Coordinates: 59.753887, -154.911117 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.7539&lon=-154.9111&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC-FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 68308 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68308/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA078 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during an approach for landing, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed a remote area about 20 miles west of his intended destination airport. At that time, the airplane had about 6 gallons of fuel in the left wing fuel tank, and the right wing fuel tank was nearly empty. As the flight approached the airport, the engine began to sputter and lose power. He switched to the right tank, but it ran for only a few seconds, and the engine sputtered. He switched back to the left fuel tank, but the engine continued to sputter, and the airplane lost altitude. He selected a road as a forced landing spot, but was unable to reach the road. The airplane collided with a tree and tundra, about 1.5 miles short of the airport. The pilot said that after the collision, the engine was still running, and he shut it down. The airplane received structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot indicated that after the accident, the left fuel tank was still showing about 4 gallons in the left wing tank sight gauge. Recovery personnel reported that they drained about 5 gallons from the left tank during retrieval of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On June 24, 2008, about 0945 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N3236P, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power, about 1.5 miles west of the Iliamna Airport, Iliamna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from Tularik Creek, about 20 miles west of Iliamna, about 0915, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 25, the pilot reported that he departed Tularik Creek and flew eastbound toward Iliamna. He said he had about 6 gallons in the left wing fuel tank, and the right wing fuel tank was nearly empty. As the flight approached Iliamna, the engine began to sputter and lose power. He switched to the right tank, but it ran for only a few seconds, and the engine sputtered. He switched back to the left fuel tank, but the engine continued to sputter, and the airplane lost altitude. He selected a road as a forced landing spot, but was unable to reach the road. The airplane collided with a tree and tundra, about 1.5 miles short of runway 07 at Iliamna. The pilot said that after the collision, the engine was still running, and he shut it down. The airplane received structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot indicated that after the accident, the left fuel tank was still showing about 4 gallons in the left wing tank sight gauge. Recovery personnel reported that they drained about 5 gallons from the left tank during retrieval of the airplane. The airplane and engine was not examined by NTSB or FAA personnel. At 0953, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) at Iliamna was reporting, in part: Wind, 090 degrees (true) at 18 knots, gusts to 24 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, few at 7,500, 11,000 feet scattered; temperature, 50 degrees F; dew point, 39 degrees F; altimeter, 29.81 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3236P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3236P), registered now, S/N 18-6766, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-6766 - Airframe hours: 3488 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mitchell S. Jolin - Registered owner: Mitchell S. Jolin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 2008 - Departed: Tularik Creek, AK - Destination: PAIL, Iliamna, AK - Airport: PAIL, Iliamna ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 462 total, 401 in this make and model, 403 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 18 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: PAIL, 1 nm away ## 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 20080624840949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080624840949A), Jun 24, 2008: Piper PA18150, Iliamna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 24, 2008, pilot [privacy data omitted] and passenger [privacy data omitted], departed lower talarik creek in his Piper PA-18, N3236P, in bound… ## Other investigations on N3236P (4) 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 ANC08CA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA008), Oct 24, 2007: Piper PA-18 (N3236P), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area which resulted in an on ground encounter with terrain, and a nose over. - [NTSB MKC77FTK10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC77FTK10), Mar 13, 1977: Piper PA-18 (N3236P), Hayes, SD, substantial damage - [NTSB MKC67F0270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC67F0270), Oct 26, 1966: Piper PA-18 (N3236P), Eli, NE, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK65X0823](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X0823), Nov 25, 1964: Piper PA18 (N3236P), Valentine, NE, substantial damage 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.