# NTSB SEA07CA085: Piper PA-18, N2124N, Tulare, CA, March 23, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 23, 2007, 10:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Tulare, CA
- Coordinates: 36.160556, -119.332496
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1606&lon=-119.3325&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65483
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07CA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65483/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA085

## Probable cause

The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.  A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- Nose over, emergency landing
  - terrain condition - grass
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, the airplane was in cruise flight when the engine "suddenly ran rough, appeared to lose power, then ran rough again."  The pilot applied carburetor heat and switched fuel tanks, but this had no significant effect.  During the forced landing in tall grass in a barley field, the airplane nosed over.  The airplane's vertical fin and rudder were bent, and the propeller was damaged.  After the airplane was recovered to an airport, an FAA inspector started the engine and operated it at an idle power setting.  The reason for the partial loss of engine power was not determined.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, the airplane was in cruise flight when the engine "suddenly ran rough, appeared to lose power, then ran rough again."  The pilot applied carburetor heat and switched fuel tanks, but this had no significant effect.  During the forced landing in tall grass in a barley field, the airplane nosed over.  The airplane's vertical fin and rudder were bent, and the propeller was damaged.  After the airplane was recovered to an airport, an FAA inspector started the engine and operated it at an idle power setting.  The reason for the partial loss of engine power was not determined.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2124N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2124N), registered now, S/N 18-259, built 1951 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-259
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: TLR, Tulare, CA
- Destination: O63, Exeter, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 14,000 total, 65 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Observed at: KVIS

## 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 20070323003759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070323003759A), Mar 23, 2007: Piper PA18, Tulare, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft departed Tulare airport (tlr) enroute to exeter airport (O63). After leveling off at 900 feet MSL, the pilot noted a power loss and…

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.