# NTSB ANC95LA061: Piper PA-18-150, N83622, Galena, AK, May 29, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 28, 1995, 21:30 local (May 29, 1995, 05:30 UTC) - Place: Galena, AK - Coordinates: 64.740989, -156.850143 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7410&lon=-156.8501&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2654 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2654/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA061 ## Probable cause THE WATER CONTAMINATING THE FUEL AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT WHICH FAILED TO ELIMINATE THE WATER FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - tundra ## Analysis THIS WAS THE AIRPLANE'S FIRST FLIGHT AFTER WINTER. THE PILOT DRAINED THE FUEL TANK SUMPS AND GASCOLATOR AND FOUND A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER. TWENTY MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT COMPLETED A FORCED LANDING ON THE TUNDRA. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE PILOT REMOVED THE FUEL LINE FROM THE GASCOLATOR TO THE CARBURETOR AND FOUND WATER IN THE FUEL LINE. ## Factual narrative On May 28, 1995, at 2130 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N83622, registered to and operated by the pilot, experienced a power loss and was forced to land on the tundra near Galena, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Galena and the destination was Huslia, Alaska. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. According to the pilot, he was in cruise flight when the engine lost power. He landed on the tundra and the airplane nosed over. He disconnected the fuel line between the gascolator and the carburetor and found that the line was full of water. This was the airplane's first flight after winter. The pilot stated, he drained the fuel sumps and gascolator during the preflight and found a small amount of water. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83622](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83622), registered now, S/N 18-7709104, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7709104 - Airframe hours: 2277 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Huntington, Roger - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 16, 1994, 175 hours before - Departed: GAL, AK - Destination: HSL, HUSLIA, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 5,400 total, 5,400 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Temperature: 50 °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 19950528014329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950528014329A), May 28, 1995: Piper PA18150, Galena, AK, Substantial damage. First flight after winter. Got some water from sumps. Lost power on climbout nosed over landing. Water still in fuel ## Other investigations on N83622 (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 ANC89LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA142), Aug 13, 1989: Piper PA-18 (N83622), Red Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. 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.