# NTSB ANC93LA113: Piper PA-18, N1ZA, Anchorage, AK, July 9, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 1993, 16:45 local (Jul 9, 1993, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.160301, -149.989303 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1603&lon=-149.9893&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 September 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2378 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2378/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA113 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR. FACTOR WAS THE SOFT CONDITION OF THE FORCED LANDING AREA. ## 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 tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND STATED HE STARTED THE ENGINE WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR IN THE RIGHT TANK POSITION AND THEN SWITCHED TO THE LEFT TANK. HE COMPLETED HIS RUN UP AND TAKEOFF WITH THE SELECTOR IN THE LEFT TANK POSITION. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE SHOWED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS ASKED TO IDENTIFY THE POSITION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR AND HE STATED IT WAS IN THE LEFT TANK POSITION. THE PIPER PA-18 FUEL SELECTOR HAS A SMALL POINTER AND LARGE HANDLE. THE POINTER MUST POINT TO THE SELECTED FUEL TANK. THIS POINTER WAS POINTING TO OFF AND THE HANDLE WAS ON THE LEFT TANK POSITION. THE AIRPLANE LANDED ON THE SOFT MUSKEG DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING AND NOSED OVER. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 1993, at 1615 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N1ZA, registered to Thomas Wells of Anchorage, Alaska, and operated by the Pilot-in-Command experienced a complete non-mechanical engine power loss just after lift off from the Lake Hood Airstrip, Anchorage, Alaska. The personal flight was departing Lake Hood for a local flight. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The Pilot-in-Command, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. According to the Pilot-in-Command, he started the engine with the fuel selector positioned on the right fuel tank. After start he switch the fuel selector to the left tank, completed the engine run up and made the take off. Just after lift off the engine lost complete power and he was forced to land on the muskeg inside the airport boundary. The airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane showed that the fuel selector was in the off position. The Piper PA-18 fuel selector has a small pointer and a large handle. The point was positioned in the off position and the large handle, the other end, was positioned in the left fuel tank position. The Pilot-in-Command was asked to view the fuel selector handle and state what position or fuel tank was selected. He stated that the fuel selector handle was in the left tank position. The fire department was interviewed and they stated they did not turn the fuel selector to the off position because no fuel was leaking. They stated they left the controls alone. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1ZA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1ZA), registered now, S/N 18-7002, built 1959 (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: 18-7002 - Airframe hours: 1989 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: White, Charles E. - Registered owner: Wells, Thomas J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 1993, 2 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 13,000 total, 150 in this make and model, 13,000 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 90 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °F ## 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 19930708022839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930708022839A), Jul 8, 1993: Piper PA18150, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Engine quit on climbout. Nosed over in muskeg. Fuel selector off. Pilot unaware of correct position of fuel selecto ## Other investigations on N1ZA (1) 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 ANC87LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA013), Nov 17, 1986: Piper PA-18 (N1ZA), Big Lake, AK, 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.