# NTSB DEN89LA214: Piper PA-18A-150, N9496D, Winston, NM, September 12, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 11, 1989, 18:15 local (Sep 12, 1989, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Winston, NM
- Coordinates: 33.380393, -107.739936 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3804&lon=-107.7399&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 13, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17781
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA214
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17781/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA214

## Probable cause

DETERIORATED CARBURETOR FLOAT.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND THE TERRAIN CONDITIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system,carburetor float - deteriorated (cause)
  - fuel system,screen - blocked(partial)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT LEANED THE MIXTURE & TOOK OFF ON RWY 30, A HIGH ALT DIRT STRIP WITH A 3.8% UPHILL GRADIENT.  WINDS WERE FROM THE NNW AT ABT 14 KTS.  AT APRX 200' TO 300' AGL, THE ENG BEGAN TO LOSE POWER.  THE ACFT SETTLED & CRASHED ON ROCKY TERRAIN AS THE PLT WAS AVOIDING TREES.  FIRE CONSUMED THE ACFT.  A TEARDOWN OF THE MARVEL-SCHEBLER MA4-SPA CARB REVEALED IT CONTAINED A COMPOSITE FLOAT (WHICH WAS DETERIORATED), PART OF THE FLOAT TOE WAS MISSING & THE NEEDLE VALVE WAS STUCK.  THE VALVE & SEAT WERE COVERED WITH A SOFT/STICKY SUBSTANCE & THE INLET FILTER SCREEN WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY BLOCKED BY FOREIGN DEBRIS.   AN STC HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR N9496D, WHICH ALLOWED USE OF AUTO FUEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9496D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9496D), registered now, S/N 18-6748, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-6748
- Airframe hours: 2522
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kramer, John Edward
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 12, 1989, 18 hours before
- Departed: 1E3
- Destination: NM51, EDGEWOOD, NM
- Airport: 1E3, Beaverhead, runway 30, 3,840 × 60 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 7,914 total, 25 in this make and model, 3,318 as pilot in command, 258 in the last 90 days, 98 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 325° at 14 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F

## 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 19890911034439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890911034439A), Sep 11, 1989: Piper STCPA18, Silver City, NM, Destroyed. Engine lost power on takeoff. Stalled on forced landing. Carb composite float deterioated and fuel fouled by mogas

## Other investigations on N9496D (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 GAA18CA583](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA583), Jun 21, 2018: Piper PA18 (N9496D), Llano, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's receiving instruction’s improper landing flare and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during landing, which resulted…

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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