Piper PA-18 N4372A

Summary

On 8 September 1996 at about 22:48 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N4372A was involved in an accident near Elmendorf, 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

8 September 1996 at 22:48

Classification

Accident

Location

Elmendorf, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.1603, -149.9894

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N4372A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC96TA148

Nobody was injured.

loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from improper positioning of the fuel tank selector; inadequate supervision by the flight instructor (CFI); and the flight crew's improper emergency procedure.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Initially, the instructor pilot (CFI) was seated in the front of the airplane, and the commercial certificated dual student pilot was seated in the rear. The purpose of flight was to instruct the student in glider tow operations. They performed two glider tow operations and decided to change seats. The student exited the rear of the airplane and stood outside, while the CFI climbed over the front seat into the rear. This was accomplished while the engine was running. A third glider tow operation was accomplished, then while climbing during the fourth glider tow operation, the engine lost power. The pilots selected a muskeg field for a forced landing. At about tree height, the engine surged to full power and then stopped again. The pilots missed landing the airplane in the muskeg field. They landed the wheel airplane in a small lake, and it sank. Examination of the cockpit before the airplane was raised showed the fuel selector positioned between the left and right fuel tank positions. Postaccident inspection of the airplane and its systems disclosed no evidence of a preexisting mechanical anomaly. The engine was supplied with fresh fuel and started. It ran normally. The fuel selector was moved to the position where it was discovered, while submerged. The engine then ran about two minutes and stopped.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.