# NTSB CEN19LA157: Piper PA18, N70699, Palm City, FL, May 27, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 27, 2019, 15:10 local (19:10 UTC) - Place: Palm City, FL - Coordinates: 27.163333, -80.285835 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1633&lon=-80.2858&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 99501 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99501/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99501 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA157 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot and a passenger were returning from a local flight and were cleared by the tower controller to enter a right downwind leg. The pilot started a descent and switched to the right fuel tank. Shortly after receiving landing clearance, the engine lost all power. The pilot informed the controller that the airplane could not reach the runway and that he was going to land the airplane in a field. During the landing, the airplane impacted a chain-link fence resulting in substantial damage to the wing and fuselage. An on-scene examination revealed that the fuel selector was in the off position. The left and right wing fuel tanks were drained during recovery; the right wing tank was full and the left wing tank was empty. The fuel filter bowl contained no residual fuel. Although the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of carburetor icing at descent power, it is most likely that the fuel selector was not positioned correctly by the pilot which resulted in fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2019, about 1510 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA18-150 airplane, N70699, impacted ground objects during a forced landing following an inflight loss of engine power near Palm City, Florida. The private pilot and passenger were uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial wing and fuselage damage during the landing. The airplane was registered to Blazie Marketing Services Inc. and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Witham Field Airport (SUA), near Stuart, Florida, about 1425. According to the pilot, he advised SUA tower that the flight was inbound to SUA when the airplane was over Naked Lady Ranch Airport, near Stuart, Florida. He was told to enter a right downwind to runway 12. The pilot started a decent and switched to the right fuel tank. For several minutes all was "normal." The tower gave the flight a landing clearance when the airplane was west of Interstate 95. The pilot then turned the airplane direct to the runway's numbers. About a minute later, the engine started popping like a "bad" magneto drop. The pilot checked the magneto switches and pumped the throttle. He indicated that the engine "reeved slightly" then quit. He assessed the situation, called the tower, and reported an "engine out." The pilot informed the tower that the airplane could not make the airport and that he was going to land the airplane in a field. He landed the airplane in an area under construction and "ran out of space" before he could get the airplane stopped. The pilot indicated that he used a chain link fence to stop the airplane. At 1540, the recorded weather at SUA was: Wind 090° at 8 kts; visibility 7 statute miles; sky condition scattered clouds at 2,000 ft; temperature 30° C; dew point 22° C; altimeter 30.03 inches of mercury. The recorded local temperature and dew point spread data near the time of the engine power loss was plotted on a carburetor icing chart. The charted data showed that the weather in the area was conducive to serious carburetor icing at descent power. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the accident airplane at the site and took photos. The fuel selector was found in the off position. The left and right wing fuel tanks were drained during the recovery of the airplane. When drained, the right wing tank was full and the left wing tank was empty. The engine's fuel filter bowl was subsequently inspected and found to have no residual fuel. Fuel was run from the right wing fuel line to the engine. Fuel then flowed through the filter bowl. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70699](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70699), registered now, S/N 18-8357, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA18 (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: 18-8357 - Year built: 1966 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SUA, Stuart, FL - Destination: SUA, Stuart, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 26, 2019; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 4,000 total, 4,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KSUA, 4 nm away ## 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 20190527005249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190527005249A), May 27, 2019: Piper PA-18-150, Palm City, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed Witham airfield (ksua) at or about 1500 (local) for a local area flight. After about 45 minutes of flight, returned inbound for landing at… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 12, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99501. 12.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475782&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475783&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement - Communication Summary Inspector J. Mygatt (item 3, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475784&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement%20-%20Communication%20Summary%20Inspector%20J.%20Mygatt-Master.PDF - Photos - FAA Supplied Images (item 4, .PDF, 13 photos, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475785&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20-%20FAA%20Supplied%20Images-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous Information - Carburetor Icing Chart With Plotted Local Weather (item 5, .PDF, 167 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475786&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20Information%20-%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart%20With%20Plotted%20Local%20Weather-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 6, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475787&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.