Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA 18-150 N8075P

4 July 2015 · Carlsbad, California, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 4 July 2015 at about 22:15 local time, a Piper PA 18-150 registered N8075P was involved in an accident near Carlsbad, California, United States. 2 people were on board. 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 22:15
Classification
Accident
Location
Carlsbad, California, United States
Coordinates
33.9750, -117.6367
Aircraft
Piper PA 18-150
Registration
N8075P
Category
Airplane
Year built
1963
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Banner Tow
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
El Cajon → El Cajon
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
WPR15CA207

People

Injuries not recorded.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to manage the fuel system properly during a banner tow operation resulting in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was towing a banner along a beach when the engine gradually lost power, and applying carburetor heat had no effect. A forced landing was initiated on the beach, and during the landing roll the airplane struck a person before it nosed over into the surf. The engine mount, right wing, and right rear lift strut were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination on site revealed that the fuel selector valve was in the left tank position. A follow up examination determined that no fuel was visible in the left fuel tank site gauge inside the cockpit area. The right wing filler cap was removed, and fuel was observed in the right tank. Fuel drained from the sump at the rear of the right tank, but nothing drained from the sump at the rear of the left tank. No fuel drained from the gascolator on the firewall. The operator reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.           

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-18 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
31 Jan 2015 Piper PA 18
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3 Nov 2015 Piper PA 18-150
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17 Apr 2015 Piper PA 18-150
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13 Jun 2015 Piper PA 18-150
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All 2,950 records for this type

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All 170,864 records in United States