Piper PA-18 N623MP

Summary

On 23 February 2011 at about 21:15 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N623MP, operated by Johnson Johnny L, was involved in an accident near Sterling, Alaska, 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

23 February 2011 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Sterling, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Sterling Air Park (40AK)

Coordinates

60.5531, -150.8389

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N623MP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Johnson Johnny L

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sterling → Sterling

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC11CA013

Nobody was injured.

The airplane owner improper fabrication of a fuel line, and subsequent inadequate inspection by an aviation mechanic, resulting in a loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the accident flight was the first flight after a major rebuild of the airplane. After completing ground runs on the engine, he and a passenger departed for a test flight. During the initial climb, approximately 600 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. He elected to land in a snow-covered field and during the landing the airplane nosed over. Substantial damage was sustained to both the front and rear lift struts on the right wing. A postaccident inspection of the fuel system by the pilot revealed a flap of rubber inside a flexible fuel hose that was of significant size to restrict fuel flow to the engine. The fuel hose was fabricated by the airplane owner, under the supervision of the mechanic. The fuel hose which was fabricated out of flexible automotive hydraulic line was not an approved aircraft-grade fuel hose.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.