Piper PA-18 N40832

Summary

On 1 August 2007 at about 19:00 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N40832 was involved in an accident near Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, United States. One person was 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

1 August 2007 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

68.6878, -151.8808

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N40832

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anaktuvuk Pass → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC07CA072

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power during approach due to water contaminated fuel.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial certificated pilot was landing the tundra tire-equipped, tailwheel airplane at an unimproved, off-airport site under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. According to the pilot, during the base leg of the approach for landing, the engine lost power, and the airplane collided with terrain during an emergency descent/landing. The airplane's owner reported that he observed the airplane's preflight inspection, and watched the pilot sump the fuel tanks, finding a small quantity of water in the tanks. He said the airplane departed, and upon returning, during landing, the engine lost power. While inspecting the airplane after the accident, the owner said he found water in the airplane's gascolator, carburetor, and fuel lines. He said the airplane was fueled from drums with filters, and it had rained during the preceding days. He said he suspected water contaminated fuel was the cause of the engine stoppage, and that after refueling the airplane with clean fuel, the engine started and ran without any problems. The owner said the airplane received damage to its fuselage, wings, lift-struts, and landing gear during the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.