Piper PA-18-150 N9834P

Summary

On 4 May 2003 at about 14:30 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N9834P was involved in an accident near Ava, New York, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 May 2003 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Ava, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Private Airfield (NONE)

Coordinates

43.3300, -75.3900

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N9834P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ava → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC03LA098

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate preflight which did not detect the contamination in the fuel, and subsequent power loss due to contaminated fuel while operating over unsuitable terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane experienced a power loss on initial climb at an altitude of about 150 feet AGL. He was unable to reach a suitable landing area and landed in the tops of trees. The investigation revealed the fuel selector valve had recently been replaced. To accomplishment the maintenance, the fuel in the tanks were drained into 5 gallon cans, and then after the replacement, it was poured back into the wing tanks. The gascolator was found filled with contamination. Only trace fuel was found forward of he gascolator, and in the carburetor. The pilot reported he had pre-flighted the airplane prior to departure. In addition, the pilot's medical had expired several years ago, and he had not completed a flight review in several years.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.