# NTSB CHI02LA065: Piper PA-18, N7113K, Clear Lake, MN, January 20, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 20, 2002, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Clear Lake, MN - Coordinates: 45.440181, -93.989089 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4402&lon=-93.9891&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Minneapolis, Minnesota - FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54095 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54095/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54095 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA065 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing. Factors were the low altitude and the fences. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - fence (contributing factor) - altitude - low (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered (cause) ## Analysis The airplane collided with two fences during a forced landing to a field following an engine failure while in the traffic pattern. The pilot said that he had performed three "run ups" and was going to perform "...some take-offs and landings after the annual." He said that after take-off, at about 400 feet agl, the engine lost power and quit. He said that he had just turned from the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern to the downwind leg. The pilot stated that he could not make it back to the airport, and could not land directly ahead due to obstructions. The pilot said that he attempted to land in a field but the field did not have enough room for the landing and he hit two fences before coming to rest. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. The engine was subsequently test run on the airframe and no anomalies were found. The weather observing station located about 7 miles and 330 degrees from the accident recorded the temperature as -3 degrees Celsius and the dewpoint as -7 degrees Celsius at 1453. According to a Transport Canada carburetor icing probability chart, the temperature and dewpoint fall in the range for light icing at cruise or descent power. ## Factual narrative On January 20, 2002, about 1500 central standard time, a Piper PA-18, N7113K, owned and piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it collided with fences during a forced landing to a field near Clear Lake, Minnesota. The airplane was reported to have lost engine power during climb out after takeoff from runway 18 (3,000 feet by 150 feet, asphalt/turf), at the Leaders Clear Lake Airport, Clear Lake, Minnesota. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not on a flight plan and was operating in visual meteorological conditions. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a written statement, the pilot said that he had performed three "run ups" and was going to perform "...some take-offs and landings after the annual." He said that after take-off, at about 400 feet agl, the engine lost power and quit. He said that he had just turned from the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern to the downwind leg. The pilot stated that he could not make it back to the airport, and could not land directly ahead due to obstructions. The pilot said that he attempted to land in a field but the field did not have enough room for the landing and he hit two fences before coming to rest. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. The engine was subsequently test run on the airframe and no anomalies were found. The weather observing station located about 7 miles and 330 degrees from the accident recorded the temperature as -3 degrees Celsius and the dewpoint as -7 degrees Celsius at 1453. According to a Transport Canada carburetor icing probability chart, the temperature and dew point fall in the range for light icing at cruise or descent power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7113K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7113K), registered now, S/N 18-332, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-332 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard D. Weber - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 2002, 54 hours before - Departed: 8Y6, CLEAR LAKE, MN - Airport: 8Y6, Leaders Clear Lake, runway 18, 3,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 12, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 439 total, 4 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.53 inHg - Observed at: STC, 7 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 20020120002119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020120002119A), Jan 20, 2002: Piper PA18, Clear Lake, MN, No damage. (.19) On January 20, 2002, about 1500 central standard time, a Piper PA-18, N7113K, owned and piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it… ## Other investigations on N7113K (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 MKC71DDQ05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC71DDQ05), Aug 7, 1970: Piper PA-18 (N7113K), Opal, SD, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54095. 404 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 339 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380507&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Carburetor Icing Chart (item 2, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40164260&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-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.