# NTSB ANC92LA021: Piper PA-18, N8678D, Kenai, AK, December 20, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 20, 1991, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Kenai, AK
- Coordinates: 60.280895, -151.259353 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.2809&lon=-151.2594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5678
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA021
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5678/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA021

## Probable cause

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER REACHING ABOUT 50 FEET AGL DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN QUIT COMPLETELY.  HE LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD, COMING TO REST IN THE TREES ABOUT 600 TO 800 FEET FROM THE END OF THE STRIP.  AFTER NUMEROUS METAL SLIVERS WERE REMOVED FROM THE CARBURETOR THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY.  THE SOURCE OF THE METAL SLIVERS WAS NOT DETERMINED.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system,carburetor - contamination (cause)
  - powerplant - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8678D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8678D-2022-03-24), registration cancelled 2022-03-24, S/N 18-6282, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-6282
- Airframe hours: 6000
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Grant Fritz, doing business as Alaska Girl Fisheries, Inc.
- Registered owner: Grant Fritz
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 1990, 117 hours before
- Airport: NONE, None, runway 36, 1,000 × 100 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 882 total, 860 in this make and model, 882 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 10 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19911220057099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911220057099A), Dec 20, 1991: Piper PA18150, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. Engine quit on takeoff. Landed in trees off end of remote strip. Found metal slivers in carburetor blocked fuel.

## Other investigations on N8678D (2)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC85LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA022), Nov 17, 1984: Piper PA-18A 150 (N8678D), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB OAK70DXQ19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK70DXQ19), Jun 21, 1970: Piper PA-18 (N8678D), Elko, NV, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.