What happened
On December 21, 2015, a Piper PA-18A, registration N2791P, departed from a runway and climbed to an altitude of 3,000 feet above ground level. While the pilot was maneuvering the aircraft, the engine lost power. Following several unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine, the pilot performed a forced landing on a highway bridge.
During the landing roll, the right wing of the aircraft struck a sign attached to the bridge. There were no injuries resulting from the accident.
The investigation
At the time of the accident, the aircraft had twenty gallons of fuel on board. During the recovery process, an airframe and power plant mechanic removed approximately two cups of water from the fuel tanks. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the aileron and the right wing spar.