# NTSB CEN11CA548: Piper PA-18A, N150CW, Sherman, TX, August 5, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 5, 2011, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Sherman, TX - Coordinates: 33.621112, -96.584999 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6211&lon=-96.5850&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81397 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA548 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81397/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81397 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA548 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7101804), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7101804), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7101804), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101804), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot did not visually check the fuel level prior to departure, but his fuel gauges indicated the left tank was 3/4-full and the right fuel tank was 1/4-full. He departed with the fuel selector on the left tank and flew for an hour before he picked up a friend and continued with the flight. The pilot and his passenger flew to another airport and landed. They then taxied back to the runway and departed. During takeoff, the pilot made a left hand turn and the engine began to sputter and then stopped producing power. The pilot was unable to return to the airport, and made a forced landing to a field. Examination of the airplane revealed the left fuel tank was empty and the right tank had only residual fuel inside. ## Factual narrative The private pilot did not visually check the fuel level prior to departure, but his fuel guages indicated the left tank was 3/4-full and the right fuel tank was 1/4-full. He departed with the fuel selector on the left tank and flew for an hour before he picked up a friend and continued with the flight. The pilot and his passenger flew to another airport and landed. They then taxied back to the runway and departed. On takeoff, the pilot made a left hand turn and the engine began to sputter and then stopped producing power. The pilot was unable to return to the airport, so he made a forced landing to a field. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the left fuel tank was empty and the right tank had some residual fuel inside. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N150CW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N150CW), registered now, S/N 18-4329 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (registry code 7101804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-4329 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Darrell Williams - Registered owner: Darrell Williams - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KSWI, Sherman, TX - Destination: KSWI, Sherman, TX - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: KSWI, Sherman, runway 16 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 464 total, 27 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20110805019929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110805019929A), Aug 5, 2011: Piper PA-18A, Sherman, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed private airstrip (X65) to perform pattern work at Sherman municipal airport (swi). After a touch and go the engine sputtered and lost power.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81397. 841 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 649 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation with the Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354046&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20the%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 3, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354041&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation with the FAA Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354048&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20the%20FAA%20Inspector-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.