Plane Crash List

Piper PA-18 N3850Z

16 October 1991 · Montague Island, Alaska, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 16 October 1991 at about 00:55 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N3850Z, operated by Monnett, Charles W., was involved in an accident near Montague Island, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 00:55
Classification
Accident
Location
Montague Island, Alaska, United States
Coordinates
60.7894, -145.6093
Aircraft
Piper PA-18
Registration
N3850Z
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Monnett, Charles W.
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Business
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Cordova → Cordova
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ANC92FA005

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 1 0

Probable cause

THE POWER LOSS DUE TO THE CRANKSHAFT FAILURE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE DURING THE LAST ENGINE OVERHAUL.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. WITH NO SUITABLE LANDING AREA ON THE BEACH, THE PILOT DITCHED IN THE OCEAN AND SWAM ASHORE ABOUT 1/2 MILE AWAY. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN AT THE FORWARD CHEEK OF THE #3 MAIN BEARING. A REDDISH SEALANT RESIDUE WAS FOUND AROUND THE MAIN BEARING THRU STUD HOLES OF THE CRANKCASE. ACCORDING TO LYCOMING SERVICE INSTRUCTION #1125A, SEALANT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN APPLIED IN THIS AREA.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-18 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
13 Oct 1991 Piper PA-18-150
N4488Z
Telluride, Colorado, United States Christopher Carroll No injuries -
13 Apr 1991 Piper PA-18-125
N1322A
Ekalaka, Montana, United States Erlend D. Laird No injuries -
9 Apr 1991 Piper PA-18-150
N6966D
Tatitlek, Alaska, United States - Fatal 1
8 Jun 1991 Piper PA-18-150
N4319Z
Wasilla, Alaska, United States David L. Grinde Serious injuries -
10 Jun 1991 Piper PA-18-150
N3474Z
Corvallis, Oregon, United States George G. Urbach Serious injuries -
14 Sep 1991 Piper PA-18-150
N3290Z
Wasilla, Alaska, United States
no coordinates
Lawrence J. Klebenow Fatal 2

All 2,950 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
1 Mar 1991 Piper PA-20
N2636A
Anchorage, Alaska, United States Hickok, Bruce D. No injuries -
22 May 1991 David K Maxwell MAX-1
N4921S
Sutton, Alaska, United States Stanley R. Dapkus Serious injuries -
5 Jan 1991 Cessna 172G
N4468L
Wasilla, Alaska, United States
no coordinates
Larry M. Driskill No injuries -
2 Feb 1991 Champion 7EC
N8988R
Eagle River, Alaska, United States Robert C. Bischoff No injuries -
29 Mar 1991 Cessna 206
N6216U
Homer, Alaska, United States - Fatal 4
6 Jul 1991 Cessna 185A
N5081H
Valdez, Alaska, United States - Minor injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States