# NTSB NYC99LA164: Piper PA-18-150, N4494Z, New Castle, VA, July 3, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 1999, 14:21 local (18:21 UTC) - Place: New Castle, VA - Coordinates: 37.49942, -80.110572 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4994&lon=-80.1106&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 August 3, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46754 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA164 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46754/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA164 ## Probable cause The pilot tookoff with the fuel tank selector in an improper position (OFF), resulting in fuel starvation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,selector/valve - switched off - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing ## Analysis After takeoff, approximately 100 feet above the ground, the engine lost all power. The pilot made a left turn to avoid utility wires, and the airplane impacted terrain at a field adjacent to the airport. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The Inspector observed the fuel selector valve in the 'OFF' position. He did not observe any fuel present in the carburetor bowl or fuel strainer. He added that the fuel strainer and carburetor bowl were not compromised during the accident. He interviewed the rescue personnel, and none of the people interviewed stated that they moved the fuel selector. Additionally, the Inspector observed the metal skin, surrounding the fuel selector, buckled. He did not observe any scrape marks near the fuel selector. When he asked the pilot about the position of the fuel selector prior to takeoff, the pilot could not remember the position. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 1999, about 1421 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-18-150, N4494Z, was substantially damaged during initial climb, after takeoff from the New Castle Airport, New Castle, Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a witness, before fueling, the left fuel gauge indicated "EMPTY" and the right gauge indicated "1/8 Tank." The witness added 9.7 gallons to the right tank. The airplane departed the grass runway and ascended approximately 100 feet. "...the engine noises suddenly went from full power to that of idle power." The pilot made a left turn to avoid utility wires, and the airplane impacted terrain at a field adjacent to the airport. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector examined the wreckage at the accident site. He found no discrepancies with the flight control systems. When the propeller was rotated by hand, crankshaft continuity was confirmed, compression was attained on all cylinders, and valve train continuity was confirmed. When rotated by hand, both magnetos produced a spark. The Inspector observed the fuel selector valve in the "OFF" position. He did not observe any fuel present in the carburetor bowl or fuel strainer. He added that the fuel strainer and carburetor bowl were not compromised during the accident. He interviewed the rescue personnel, and none of the people interviewed stated that they moved the fuel selector. Additionally, the Inspector observed the metal skin, surrounding the fuel selector, buckled. He did not observe any scrape marks near the fuel selector. The Inspector noticed that the mixture cable was separated. The cable was sent to the Safety Board Materials Laboratory for further examination. According to the Materials Laboratory Factual Report, "No scraping or additional damage was noted on the outside of the wire." The Materials Engineer could not determine if the cable separated before or after the impact. According to a schematic of the fuel system, provided by the airplane manufacturer; fuel flowed from the tanks, to the selector valve, to the strainer, to the carburetor, to the mixture control, and then to engine. During an interview with the Inspector, the pilot stated that he did not remember much about the accident, including the position of the fuel selector prior to takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4494Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4494Z), registered now, S/N 18-8848, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - 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: 18-8848 - Airframe hours: 3843 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lanier Frantz - Registered owner: New Castle Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 23, 1999, 45 hours before - Departed: VA85 - Airport: VA85, New Castle Airport, runway 36, 2,400 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,000 total, 125 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ROA, 8 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 19990703008189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990703008189A), Jul 3, 1999: Piper PA18150, New Castle, VA, Substantial damage. Acft crashed at the New Castle airport due to unkn circumstances, sole occupant airlifted to local hospital, 1 serious injury. (-23) on July 3, 1999, at 1421… 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.