# NTSB SEA97LA132: Piper PA-18-135, N27296, Big Creek, ID, June 7, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 7, 1997, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Big Creek, ID - Coordinates: 45.0704, -115.970848 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0704&lon=-115.9708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 13, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42624 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42624/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA132 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector to the 'OFF' position, which resulted in fuel starvation and loss of engine power during takeoff. Factors relating to the accident were: down-sloping terrain (airstrip) and trees that were encountered during the aborted takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - roll/run - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - downhill (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that just before takeoff, he switched fuel tanks to what he believed was the fullest tank; however, he inadvertently selected the 'OFF' position. During takeoff on down-sloping terrain, the engine lost power. The pilot stated that the airplane had just lifted off at the time of the power loss, and he immediately re-landed. He was unable to stop the airplane before it collided with trees at the end of the runway. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 7, 1997, approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18-135, N27296, registered to and being flown by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff at the Mile Hi airstrip, Big Creek, Idaho. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and had departed McCall, Idaho, earlier in the morning with intermediate stops at various remote mountain airstrips. The pilot reported that immediately before taking off from the Mile Hi airstrip, he "turned the fuel selector a full 180 degrees" intending to take off on the fullest fuel tank, but that it "should have been only 90 degrees." During the takeoff roll on the 18 degree down-sloped, grass strip, the engine lost power. The pilot reported that he was just lifting off at the time of the power loss and immediately re-landed the aircraft. He was unable to stop the aircraft on the remaining runway and subsequently collided head-on with a tree passing the down-slope end of the runway boundary. The fuel selector was documented in the "OFF" position at the accident site (refer to photograph 1). ## Aircraft - Registration: N27296 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-135 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-3920 - Airframe hours: 1225 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mcginty, Edwin, R. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 18, 1996, 47 hours before - Destination: EUL, CALDWELL, ID - Airport: Mile Hi, runway 10, 1,100 × 30 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,620 total, 700 in this make and model, 1,550 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 19970607013539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970607013539A), Jun 7, 1997: Piper PA18135, Mile Hi Strip, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot inadvertantly switched fuel off before takeoff, ran out of fuel during takeoff roll, aircraft wing hit strip. 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.