Piper PA-18-150 N1961P

Summary

On 24 June 1989 at about 00:30 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N1961P was involved in an accident near Middletown, Ohio, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 June 1989 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Middletown, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

39.5607, -84.4208

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N1961P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Middletown → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI89LA120

2 people had minor injuries.

FUEL STARVATION FROM IMPROPER MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL SELECTOR BY THE PILOT AND HIS IMPROPER USE OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES DURING THE ATTEMPTED ENGINE RESTART. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRCRAFT AND THE TERRAIN CONDITION (BARLEY CROP).

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG FLT AT 1500 FT, HE REACHED FOR THE ELEVATOR TRIM & INADVERTENTLY ROTATED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO ONE OF THE OFF POSITIONS. THE ENG THEN LOST POWER FROM FUEL STARVATION. THE PLT ESTABLISHED A GLIDE TO A NEARBY FIELD & ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENG. HOWEVER, HE HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING SPEED DRG THE EMERGENCY APCH & ELECTED TO CONCENTRATE ON FLYING THE ACFT. WHEN HE LANDED IN A BARLEY FIELD, THE WHEELS CONTACTED THE CROP & THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE PLT RPRTD HE HAD A TOTAL OF 3 HRS OF FLT TIME IN THIS MAKE & MODEL OF ACFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.