Piper PA-18A N150CW

Summary

On 5 August 2011 at about 16:00 local time, a Piper PA-18A registered N150CW, operated by Darrell Williams, was involved in an accident near Sherman, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 August 2011 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Sherman, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Sherman (KSWI)

Coordinates

33.6211, -96.5850

Aircraft

Piper PA-18A

Registration

N150CW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Darrell Williams

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sherman → Sherman

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11CA548

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot did not visually check the fuel level prior to departure, but his fuel gauges indicated the left tank was 3/4-full and the right fuel tank was 1/4-full. He departed with the fuel selector on the left tank and flew for an hour before he picked up a friend and continued with the flight. The pilot and his passenger flew to another airport and landed. They then taxied back to the runway and departed. During takeoff, the pilot made a left hand turn and the engine began to sputter and then stopped producing power. The pilot was unable to return to the airport, and made a forced landing to a field. Examination of the airplane revealed the left fuel tank was empty and the right tank had only residual fuel inside.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.