# NTSB ATL88LA114: Piper PA-18-150, N8994Y, Orangeburg, SC, March 7, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 7, 1988, 18:05 local (23:05 UTC)
- Place: Orangeburg, SC
- Location: 33.4936° N, 80.8669° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Orangeburg, SC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4936&lon=-80.8669&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 21, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7718
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA114
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7718/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA114

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel system,cap - siphoning (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - incorrect (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE ENGINE LOST PWR AS THE AIRPLANE WAS RETURNING FROM A FIRE-PATROL FLT. THE PLT MADE A FORCED LDG IN A FIELD WHERE THE AIRPLANE RAN INTO SOFT DIRT AND NOSED OVER. POST-CRASH EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FUEL RAMAINING IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE EXAM ALSO REVEALED THAT THE LEFT TANK FUEL CAP GASKET WAS MISSING AND THAT A LARGE FUEL STAIN EXISTED IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT TANK FILLER OPENING. THE PLT RPTD THAT HE HAD DEPARTED W/ FULL TANKS WHICH HE HAD VISUALLY CONFIRMED. HE INITIALLY OPERATED ON THE LT TANK FOR 1.5 HRS THEN SWITCHED TO THE RT TANK FOR 2.1 HRS. WHEN THE RT TANK RAN DRY HE SWITCHED BACK TO THE LT TANK BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT REGAIN PWR. THE PLT NOTED THAT AFTER PRIOR PATROL FLTS LASTING ABOUT 3.5 HRS, THE ACFT WOULD HAVE 5-6 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING. HE NORMALLY ESTIMATED FUEL REMAINING BY THE KNOWN AVG CONSUMPTION RATE OF THE ENGINE AND ELAPSED TIME. HE DID NOT GO BY FUEL GAUGE INDICATIONS BECAUSE THE GAUGES WEREN'T 'THAT ACCURATE'.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8994Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 187409136
- Airframe hours: 6782
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Operator: Sc State Commission Forestry
- Registered owner: Sc State Commission Of Forest
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 1988, 61 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,050 total, 325 in this make and model, 1,750 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19880307006809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880307006809A), Mar 7, 1988: Piper PA18150, Orangeburg, SC, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel before normal fuel endurance. Nosed over landing. Found a fuel cap leaking. Siphoned out the fuel.

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.

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