Piper PA-18-150 N4494Z
3 July 1999 · New Castle, Virginia, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 3 July 1999 at about 18:21 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N4494Z, operated by Lanier Frantz, was involved in an accident near New Castle, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. 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 18:21
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- New Castle, Virginia, United States
- Nearest airport
- New Castle Airport (VA85)
- Coordinates
- 37.4994, -80.1106
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150
- Registration
- N4494Z
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Lanier Frantz
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC99LA164
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot tookoff with the fuel tank selector in an improper position (OFF), resulting in fuel starvation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
After takeoff, approximately 100 feet above the ground, the engine lost all power. The pilot made a left turn to avoid utility wires, and the airplane impacted terrain at a field adjacent to the airport. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The Inspector observed the fuel selector valve in the 'OFF' position. He did not observe any fuel present in the carburetor bowl or fuel strainer. He added that the fuel strainer and carburetor bowl were not compromised during the accident. He interviewed the rescue personnel, and none of the people interviewed stated that they moved the fuel selector. Additionally, the Inspector observed the metal skin, surrounding the fuel selector, buckled. He did not observe any scrape marks near the fuel selector. When he asked the pilot about the position of the fuel selector prior to takeoff, the pilot could not remember the position.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-18 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 May 1999 | Piper PA-18 | Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States | James T. Ables | No injuries | - |
| 10 May 1999 | Piper PA-18-L21B | Vincennes, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jan 1999 | Piper PA-18-150 | Hyannis, Nebraska, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 1999 | Piper PA-18-150 | Lamar, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jun 1999 | Piper PA-18 | Ekwok, Alaska, United States | Fred C. Noden JR. | No injuries | - |
| 9 May 1999 | Piper PA-18-150 | Salem, Oregon, United States | - | No injuries | - |
All 2,950 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Sep 1999 | Piper PA-22-108 | Manassas, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jan 1999 | Piper PA-60-602P | Lynchburg, Virginia, United States | Herbert Frazier II | Serious injuries | - |
| 18 Dec 1999 | Beechcraft BE-23 | Blacksburg, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Dec 1999 | Prudhomme VELOCITY RG 173 | Richmond, Virginia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Nov 1999 | Coughlin LONG-EZ | Remington, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 Dec 1999 | Beechcraft C-23 | Manassas, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |