- Date
- August 29, 2011, 16:00 local (Aug 30, 2011, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- Cape Yakataga, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N82448Piper PA-18-150
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 18, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Juneau FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110829019049A
- Case key
- 81637
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot inadvertently switching off the engine magnetos during the initial climb, resulting in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the manufacturer's placement of the magneto switches.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during the initial climb, he inadvertently switched off the engine magnetos with his coat sleeve while using the trim handle causing the airplane’s engine to shut down; the switches were located on the left side of the cabin. The pilot realized the problem, but, due to the airplane's low altitude, he decided to land instead of trying to restart the engine and climb over obstacles at the end of the airstrip. The airplane touched down in an area of tree stumps and brush, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the magneto switches on the accident airplane and other like models revealed that a pilot's coat sleeve can contact and move the guarded magneto switches. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by moving the magneto switches to the instrument panel.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during the initial climb, he inadvertently switched off the engine magneto switches on the left side of the cabin with his coat sleeve while using the trim handle, and the airplane's engine shutdown. He realized the problem, but due to the airplane's low altitude, he decided to land instead of trying to restart the engine and climb over obstacles at the end of the airstrip. The airplane touched down in an area of tree stumps and brush, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Examination of the magneto switches on the accident airplane, and other like models, revealed that a pilot's coat sleeve can come in contact with the guarded magneto switches. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by moving the magneto switches to the instrument panel.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N82448
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-7909099
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Fejes Guide Service Ltd
- Registered owner
- Fejes Guide Service Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- NA · Cape Yakataga, AK
- Destination
- NA · Cape Yakataga, AK
- Airport
- NA · Tsiu Lodge Strip
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 26, 2010
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 26,785 total · 15,620 in this make and model · 57 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,300 ft broken
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- PACV, 106 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 1, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 719 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N82448 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.