Accident Details
On February 27, 2022, at about 1232 Alaska standard time, a Piper P-18 airplane, registration N99640, sustained substantial damage in an accident near Wolf Lake Airport (4AK6) in Wasilla, Alaska. The pilot, who was not certificated, reported minor injuries. The airplane was being operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The pilot stated that after departure from 4AK6, while the airplane was approximately 100 feet above ground level, the engine began to lose power, run roughly, and shake violently. In an attempt to restore engine power, the pilot applied carburetor heat and selected the left fuel tank, then the right fuel tank, and finally both tanks, but these actions did not restore power. The pilot then reduced engine power to control the shaking and conducted an emergency landing. During the landing, the airplane impacted a burn barrel and came to rest against a hangar, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination revealed that the Maule-type fuel selector had been mislabeled. Specifically, the position marked "both" actually selected the right tank; the position marked "left" was the "off" position; the position marked "right" selected the left tank; and the position marked "off" selected both tanks. Examination of the engine, its accessories, and other fuel system components found no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.