Piper PA-18-150 N4310Z

Summary

On 4 June 1997 at about 20:09 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N4310Z was involved in an accident near Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States. 2 people were 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.

Date

4 June 1997 at 20:09

Classification

Accident

Location

Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

38.4793, -78.6201

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N4310Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Weyers Cave → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD97GA081

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's preoccupation which led to fuel starvation of the selected tank and the subsequent forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot and observer were flying an official survey flight for the state Game and Inland Fisheries. After 2 hours 20 minutes, they were returning to the airport when the engine began to 'spit and sputter'. The pilot was able to get the engine running again for about 5 seconds, and then declared that they were going to land. The pilot spotted a grass strip and attempted a downwind landing, when he noticed a mobile home at the end of the strip. The pilot reported that he ran the right wing into a tree in order to avoid the home. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the right fuel tank was empty and the left tank was full. The fuel selector was set on the right tank. The pilot reported that he was preoccupied during the flight and forgot to switch tanks.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.