# NTSB ANC21LA024: Piper PA-18A 150, N9073D, Kasilof, AK, March 13, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 12, 2021, 16:30 local (Mar 13, 2021, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Kasilof, AK
- Coordinates: 60.12, -150.43 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.1200&lon=-150.4300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102760
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102760/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102760
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA024

## Probable cause

The pilot’s mismanagement of the available fuel, which resulted in a total loss on engine power due to fuel starvation.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, while flying at a low altitude, the engine lost all power. In an effort to restore power, he rotated the fuel selector to what he thought was the left fuel tank while focusing his attention outside the airplane to conduct an emergency descent and landing. During the emergency landing the airplane impacted trees sustaining substantial damage to the wings, lift struts, fuselage and right elevator. A post-accident wreckage examination which included an engine run revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In addition, fuel was found in the left main fuel tank, no fuel in the right main fuel tank and the fuel selector was in the off position. The pilot stated that he must have inadvertently selected the fuel selector to the off position following the loss of power.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9073D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9073D), registered now, S/N 18-6439, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A 150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-A2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-a2b) (registry code 42101, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-6439
- Year built: 1958
- Airframe hours: 4759.9
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 2020
- Departed: PASX, Soldotna, AK
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 688.9 total, 48.2 in this make and model, 607.8 as pilot in command, 7.3 in the last 90 days, 7.3 in the last 30 days, 2.1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: -15 °F, dew point -18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observed at: PASX, 28 nm away
- METAR: PASX 121356Z AUTO 06004KT 10SM CLR M26/M28 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP231 T12611283 FZRANO

## 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 20210312004489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210312004489A), Mar 12, 2021: Piper PA-18A 150, Kasilof, AK, Substantial damage. PA-18 engine failure in flight, landing in wooded area approx. [privacy data omitted]. Weather clear, 10 mile vis., winds var. 5 KTS

## Other investigations on N9073D (2)

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 ANC87LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA058), Apr 5, 1987: Piper PA-18 (N9073D), Valdez, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB SEA69F0022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA69F0022), May 10, 1968: Piper PA-18 (N9073D), Lowell, OR, substantial damage

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 20, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102760. 11.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 8.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12088176&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20DMS_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Wreckage examination summary (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12089134&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20N9073D%20sn%2018-6439_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (unknown source) (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12088821&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf

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.

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