# NTSB SEA08CA053: Piper PA-18-150, N9086Y, Truckee, CA, December 23, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 23, 2007, 09:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Truckee, CA
- Coordinates: 39.472778, -120.332496
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4728&lon=-120.3325&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67303
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67303/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA053

## Probable cause

The loss of partial engine power during cruise for undetermined reasons.  A contributing factor was the snow covered terrain.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The pilot said that his engine started running rough while flying over mountainous terrain.  There was a large snow covered meadow beneath him, so he circled it while trying to resolve his engine problem.  His attempts to regain full power were unsuccessful.  The airplane was equipped with large tundra tires, and the pilot believed that a precautionary landing under partial power was more prudent than proceeding to the nearest airport while crossing mountain ridges and over flying the surrounding forest.  During a wheel landing in the snow, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.  The forward section of the airframe, both wings spars, and the vertical stabilizer were bent.  The reason for the partial power loss was undetermined.

## Factual narrative

The pilot said that while flying over mountainous terrain, his engine started running rough.  There was a large snow covered meadow beneath him, so he circled it while trying to resolve his engine problem.  His attempts to regain full power were unsuccessful.  The airplane was equipped with large tundra tires, and the pilot believed that a precautionary landing under partial power was more prudent than proceeding to the nearest airport while crossing mountain ridges and over flying the surrounding forest.  During a wheel landing in the snow, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.  The forward section of the airframe, both wings spars, and the vertical stabilizer were bent.  The reason for the partial power loss was undetermined.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9086Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-8914
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tristano Caracciolo
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: TRK, Truckee, CA
- Destination: 4SD, Reno, NV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 7,685 total, 143 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.51 inHg
- Observed at: TRK, 12 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 20071223830709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071223830709A), Dec 23, 2007: Piper PA18150, Truckee, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot indicated that the aircraft began running rough while enroute from (trk) Truckee, CA to (4SD) reno stead airport. Pilot stated that he elected to…

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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