# NTSB WPR25LA155: Piper PA-18-150, N333TM, Enumclaw, WA, May 10, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report - Date: May 10, 2025, 14:12 local (21:12 UTC) - Place: Enumclaw, WA · farm field - Coordinates: 47.2505, -121.94 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2505&lon=-121.9400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Lycoming Engines - NTSB case key (mKey): 200149 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA155 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200149/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA155 ## Preliminary report On May 10, 2025, about 1412 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N333TM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Enumclaw, Washington. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 glider tow flight. The pilot was conducting glider tow operations from Bergseth Field Airport (WN76), Enumclaw, Washington. According to the pilot, he departed WN76 and was conducting turns consistent with the operator’s standard departure procedure, with a glider in tow. At about 200 ft above ground level (agl), and in a left bank, the engine abruptly lost all power. The pilot lowered the airplane’s nose and verified that the fuel selector was positioned on the left fuel tank, carburetor heat was off, throttle was full forward, and magneto switch was on BOTH. The pilot released the glider from its tow and initiated a forced landing to a field about 1 mile northwest of WN76. During the landing, the airplane impacted a fence and subsequently ground looped. The pilot reported that the accident flight was the fourth flight of the day, and that the airplane had started the day’s flights with “slightly less than half tanks on either side.” Prior to the accident takeoff, the left wing fuel tank sight gauge indicated approximately ¼ - ½ full, and the right wing fuel tank indicated approximately ¼ full. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing, both left and right wing lift struts, and fuselage. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N333TM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N333TM), registered now, S/N 18-8939, built 1971 (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: 18-8939 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 3631 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Glider tow, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 31, 2025, 20 hours before - Departed: WN76, Enumclaw, WA - Destination: WN76, Enumclaw, WA - Airport: WN76, Bergseth Field - Equipment: ADS-B ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KPLU, 17 nm away - METAR: KPLU 102115Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM FEW060 BKN070 17/01 A3003 ## 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 20250510018619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250510018619A), May 10, 2025: Piper PA-18-150, Enumclaw, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he lost engine power while towing glider. He released glider and landed in a nearby cow pasture. There were no injuries to the pilot or any… ## Other investigations on N333TM (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN74DTE80](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74DTE80), Jun 10, 1974: Piper PA-18 (N333TM), Two Buttes, CO, substantial damage 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.