Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-18-150 N9128D

7 November 1992 · Columbia, South Carolina, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 7 November 1992 at about 17:55 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N9128D, operated by Sky Signs Inc., was involved in an accident near Columbia, South Carolina, 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.

The record

Date
at 17:55
Classification
Accident
Location
Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Coordinates
34.0902, -80.9193
Aircraft
Piper PA-18-150
Registration
N9128D
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Sky Signs Inc.
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Other Work Use
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ATL93LA022

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHICH RESULTED FROM FUEL STARVATION WHEN THE CARBURETOR FLOAT VALVE STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT FIELD .

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT COMPLETED REFUELING THE AIRPLANE AND TOOK OFF TO CONTINUE THE BANNER TOW OPERATION. DURING CLIMBOUT THE ENGINE LOST POWER; THE PILOT'S EFFORTS TO RESTORE NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION FAILED. THE PILOT ESTABLISHED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT TO A SOYBEAN FIELD FOR A FORCED LANDING; DURING THE TOUCHDOWN PHASE OF THE EMERGENCY, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCLOSED THAT THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY BETWEEN IDLE AND THE MAXIMUM RPM RANGES. HOWEVER, THE CARBURETOR EXAMINATION, DISCLOSED THAT THE FLOAT VALVE WOULD STICK IN THE CLOSED (FUEL OFF) POSITION. A REVIEW OF THE OPERATOR'S REFUELING POLICY REVEALED THAT A BLEND OF 100 LOW LEAD AVIATION FUEL AND AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE WERE USED IN AIRPLANES GRANTED A SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE FOR AUTOMOTIVE FUEL. N9128D WAS GRANTED AN STC FOR THE USE OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-18 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
21 Mar 1992 Piper PA-18
N83367
Shageluk, Alaska, United States Deacon, Nelson H. No injuries -
22 Apr 1992 Piper PA-18-150
N13910
St. Augustine, Florida, United States Michael L. King Fatal 1
20 Apr 1992 Piper PA-18-150
N7077D
Big Lake, Alaska, United States Kastner, Kenneth D. No injuries -
19 Jul 1992 Piper PA-18
N3292Z
Ft Walton Beach, Florida, United States Boomer Aviation, Inc. Minor injuries -
13 May 1992 Piper PA-18-150
N3841Z
Soccastee, South Carolina, United States Sky Signs, Inc. No injuries -
5 Aug 1992 Piper PA-18-150
N4037E
Littleton, Colorado, United States Banner Advertising Minor injuries -

All 2,950 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
1 Mar 1992 Mooney M20C
N6748U
Charleston, South Carolina, United States Hannon, Fred W. No injuries -
3 Mar 1992 Cessna 172L
N2862Q
Starr, South Carolina, United States Blaylock, Harry R. Minor injuries -
11 Mar 1992 Piper PA-46-310
N4387V
Aiken, South Carolina, United States A-1 Leasing, Inc No injuries -
13 Mar 1992 William D Weeks GLASAIR I
N169DW
Timmonsville, South Carolina, United States Weeks, William D. Minor injuries -
22 Mar 1992 Cessna 182
N5441B
Barnwell, South Carolina, United States Vikings of Denmark, Inc. Fatal -
3 Apr 1992 Cessna 210
N7320E
Florence, South Carolina, United States Held, Daniel Z. No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States