- Date
- April 12, 1990, 17:00 local (Apr 13, 1990, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Willow, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N40872Piper PA-18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 21, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Case key
- 5350
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
Improper installation of the fuel valve.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf
Fuel system,selector/valve - improperCause
Forced landing
In flight collision with terrain/water
Analysis
During the climbout, the pilot switched the fuel tanks, the engine quit, and the airplane crashed into a wooded area. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot was not injured. The new fuel valve was installed just prior to the flight. Examination of the airplane revealed that the valve was installed incorrectly.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N40872
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 188102
- Airframe hours
- 4,305
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A44, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Charles Vandergaw
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1990 · 15 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,000 total · 1,800 in this make and model · 2,000 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg