# NTSB ATL02LA078: Piper PA-18, N30660, Pahokee, FL, April 11, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 11, 2002, 16:17 local (20:17 UTC) - Place: Pahokee, FL - Coordinates: 26.784999, -80.693336 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7850&lon=-80.6933&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Fort Lauderdale FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54499 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54499/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54499 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA078 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power and the post-landing fire for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Fire, standing - engine(s) not operating - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the fuel tank was filled with 100 low lead fuel before the takeoff. The pilot taxied to runway 10, and initiated a takeoff. During climbout, the pilot started a left climbing turn, and at approximately the same time, the engine lost power. The pilot further reported that engine RPM dropped to Idle. The pilot selected an emergency landing area and established an approach to land. The pilot reported that after the landing, the airplane burst into flames.The subsequent examination of the accident site disclosed that the airframe was badly fire damaged. The engine compartment was also fire damaged, and engine components damaged. According to the pilot, he had not experienced any previous mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 11, 2002, at 1617 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-18, N30660, registered to and owned by the pilot, landed in a sugar cane field and burst into flames during a forced landing near Pahokee, Florida. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was destroyed and there was a post-impact fire. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed Pahokee, Florida, at 1615, on April 11, 2002. According to the pilot, the fuel tank was filled with 100 low lead fuel before the takeoff. The pilot taxied to runway 10, and initiated a takeoff. During climbout at about 100 feet, the pilot started a left climbing turn, and at approximately the same time, the engine lost power. The pilot further reported that engine RPM dropped to Idle. The pilot selected an emergency landing area and established an approach to land. The pilot reported that after the landing, the airplane burst into flames. The subsequent examination of the accident site disclosed that the airframe was badly fire damaged. The engine compartment was also fire damaged, and engine components damaged. According to the pilot, he had not experienced any previous mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30660](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30660-2009-04-10), registration cancelled 2009-04-10, S/N 5-230, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper J5A-80](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j5a-80) (registry code 7100706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A80 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a80-series) (registry code 17006, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5-230 - Engines: Avco Lycoming O-320 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sam G. Defazio - Registered owner: Glades AG Service INC., - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 28, 2002 - Departed: Pahokee, FL - Airport: PHK, Plam Beach County Glades, runway 10, 5,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review October 15, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 3,863 total, 32 in this make and model, 79 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 8 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: PNS ## 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 20020411014199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020411014199A), Apr 11, 2002: Piper J5A80, Pahokee, FL, No damage. (-23) During climbout, pilot lost power and landed hard in a sugar cane field. Post impact fire destroyed aircraft. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 15, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54499. 40 KB in all. - Note Regarding Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40201914&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Note%20Regarding%20Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Supplement S (item 2, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40201915&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.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. --- 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.