# NTSB NYC99LA218: Piper PA-18-150, N2584P, Greenville, ME, September 2, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1999, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Greenville, ME
- Location: 45.4662° N, 69.5780° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Greenville, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4662&lon=-69.5780&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47317
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA218
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47317/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA218

## Probable cause

The pilot in command's inattentive management of the fuel supply.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering
  - fluid,fuel - starvation
  - fuel management - inattentive, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, maneuvering
- Hard landing, emergency landing

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he had departed with the fuel selected on the left tank.  While maneuvering over some clear-cut timber, at an altitude of about 300 feet above the ground, the engine suddenly quit.  The pilot realized that he had exhausted the fuel in the left tank and attempted to switch to the right tank, which had about 12 gallons of fuel remaining.  The engine did not respond, and a forced landing was made to a dirt road.

## Factual narrative

On September 2, 1999, about 1900 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-18-150, N2584P, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Greenville, Maine.  The certificated commercial pilot received minor injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that he had departed from his home on Moosehead Lake, Maine, about 1830, with the fuel selected on the left tank.  While maneuvering over some clear-cut timber, at an altitude of about 300 feet above the ground, the engine suddenly quit.  The pilot realized that he had exhausted the fuel in the left tank and attempted to switch to the right tank, which had about 12 gallons of fuel remaining.  The engine did not respond, and a forced landing was made to a dirt road.  The airplane touched down on it's floats, coming to rest upright.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2584P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2584P), registered now, S/N 18-4326, built 1955 (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 O-320-B2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-b2b) (registry code 42138, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-4326
- Airframe hours: 2228
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-B-2-B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard E. Kennedy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 1999, 3 hours before
- Departed: NONE, GREENVILLE, ME

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,537 total, 48 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MLT, 41 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 19990902043699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990902043699A), Sep 2, 1999: Piper PA18150, Greenville, ME, Substantial damage. (.4) The pilot stated that he had departed with the fuel selected on the left tank. While maneuvering over some clear-cut timber, at an altitude of about 300…

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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