ERA09WA546

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA18 · Barbones, Ecuador, Ecuador · September 25, 2009

Accident · FatalForeign investigation
Date
September 25, 2009, 18:30 local (18:30 UTC)
Place
Barbones, Ecuador, Ecuador
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
HC-AHDPiper PA18
Defining event
Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Lead agency
Other
Parties
IFO/FAA
Case key
74835

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Factual narrative

On September 25, 2009, about 1330 central standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, Ecuadorian registration HC-AHD, registered to and operated by FumiPalma S.A., crashed following a loss of engine power, while on an approach for landing at the Pista Bardones, El Oro, Ecuador. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot and passenger were killed and the airplane was destroyed by a post-crash fire. The flight originated from the same airstrip about 10 minutes prior to the accident. According to information obtained from the Ecuadorian Subdireccion de Aviacion Civil, the pilot completed several touch-and-go landings and made a stop for a break before the accident flight. After the break, the pilot took onboard a passenger for a local pleasure fight. After a duration of 10 minutes, the airplane was observed approaching for a landing, at which time the engine stopped producing power and the airplane impacted the terrain, 1,970 feet short of the intended airstrip. A fire ensued immediately following the impact. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Ecuador. Any further information can be obtained from: Direccion General de Aviacion Civil Departamento de Seguridad de Vuelo Buenos Aires 149 Y 10 de Agusto Casilla 2077 Quito, Republica del Ecuador Fax; 593-2- 223-8352 This information is for informational purposes only and contains information released by, or obtained for, the government of Ecuador.

Aircraft

Registration
HC-AHD
Reported as
Piper PA18 (150)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18-7849
Airframe hours
600
Engine
Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Personal · Non-U.S., non-commercial
Operator
FumiPalma S.A.
Registered owner
FumiPalma S.A.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Condition · August 3, 2009 · 4 hours before
Departed
Barbones
Destination
Barbones
Airport
Pista Barbones

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Injuries
Fatal
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Unknown
Seat
Front

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
140° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 66 °F
Altimeter
29.76 inHg
Observed at
SEGU

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 11 KB in all.