1989-06-24: Piper PA-18-150 — Middletown, OH

Casualties unknown • Middletown, OH, US

Probable cause

FUEL STARVATION FROM IMPROPER MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL SELECTOR BY THE PILOT AND HIS IMPROPER USE OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES DURING THE ATTEMPTED ENGINE RESTART. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRCRAFT AND THE TERRAIN CONDITION (BARLEY CROP).

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG FLT AT 1500 FT, HE REACHED FOR THE ELEVATOR TRIM & INADVERTENTLY ROTATED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO ONE OF THE OFF POSITIONS. THE ENG THEN LOST POWER FROM FUEL STARVATION. THE PLT ESTABLISHED A GLIDE TO A NEARBY FIELD & ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENG. HOWEVER, HE HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING SPEED DRG THE EMERGENCY APCH & ELECTED TO CONCENTRATE ON FLYING THE ACFT. WHEN HE LANDED IN A BARLEY FIELD, THE WHEELS CONTACTED THE CROP & THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE PLT RPRTD HE HAD A TOTAL OF 3 HRS OF FLT TIME IN THIS MAKE & MODEL OF ACFT.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1989-06-24 Piper PA-18-150 accident near Middletown, OH?

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1989-06-24 involved a Piper PA-18-150, registration N1961P, at Middletown, OH.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

FUEL STARVATION FROM IMPROPER MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL SELECTOR BY THE PILOT AND HIS IMPROPER USE OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES DURING THE ATTEMPTED ENGINE RESTART. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRCRAFT AND THE TERRAIN CONDITION (BARLEY CROP).

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