Aviation Crash Map

Super 18 S18-STD N230AK

10 August 2013 · Humboldt, South Dakota, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 10 August 2013 at about 20:30 local time, a Super 18 S18-STD registered N230AK, operated by Super 18 LLC, was involved in an accident near Humboldt, South Dakota, 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.

The record

Date
at 20:30
Classification
Accident
Location
Humboldt, South Dakota, United States
Coordinates
43.6283, -97.0733
Aircraft
Super 18 S18-STD
Registration
N230AK
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Super 18 LLC
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Brandon → Humboldt
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
CEN13CA481

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 0 2

Probable cause

The pilot's inadvertent addition of water into the fuel system and his improper preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the engine stopped producing power shortly after takeoff. He initially tried to land on a road, but the engine momentarily re-started before it stopped completely. The pilot then made a forced landing to a corn field, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and airframe. Examination of the engine found water in the carburetor. The pilot stated that when he placed auto gas in the airplane's fuel tanks earlier that day, he used gas cans from his shop, which most likely contained water. He also did not sump the wing tanks prior to the flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

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All 170,864 records in United States