Piper PA-18 N7797B

Summary

On 14 August 1996 at about 00:15 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N7797B was involved in an accident near Skwentna, 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

14 August 1996 at 00:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Skwentna, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.9292, -151.7307

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N7797B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Beluga

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC96LA124

Nobody was injured.

An engine failure due to an eroded engine piston. Factors in the accident were unsuitable terrain for a forced landing and improperly timed magnetos.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated private pilot and the sole passenger departed a remote lake in a float equipped airplane. About 3 minutes after departure, the engine began to run rough and then quit. The pilot turned back toward the lake, but was unable to glide to the lake and landed on the shoreline. Postaccident inspection of the engine revealed no compression in the number 4 cylinder. The top piston compression ring was frozen in its slot. The outer and upper edge of the top of the piston was eroded and scored. Tiny particles of the piston material were attached to the spark plugs. One magneto was timed 4 degrees before the recommended setting of 25 degrees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.