Saturday, September 07, 2019

Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub, N14365: Fatal accident occurred September 06, 2019 at Ken Jernstedt Airfield (4S2), Hood River County, Oregon

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Hillsboro, Oregon
Piper Aircraft Inc; Vero Beach, Florida
Lycoming Engines, a Division of AVCO Corporation; Williamsport, Pennsylvania

PA-18 LLC

https://registry.faa.gov/N14365 

Location: Hood River, OR
Accident Number: WPR19FA251
Date & Time: 09/06/2019, 1009 PDT
Registration: N14365
Aircraft: Piper PA18
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On September 6, 2019, at 1009 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-18, N14365, experienced a complete loss of engine power during takeoff from runway 25 and impacted terrain at Ken Jernstedt Airport (4S2), Hood River, Oregon. The airplane was owned by PA-18 LLC., and operated as a personal flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and private pilot were fatally injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight and no flight plan had been filed.

According to museum personnel, the private pilot needed a biannual flight review (BFR). About 45 minutes before the accident, the CFI and private pilot were observed moving the airplane over toward the T-hangars. Several witnesses around the area, observed the airplane taxiing from the T-hangar area toward runway 25; they did not hear any abnormalities with the engine. The airplane taxied to the active runway, full throttle was added, and the airplane was observed on the takeoff roll and climb out. When the airplane reached about 100 feet above the ground (agl), the engine made two "pops" and then quit. The airplane repositioned from a takeoff attitude to a nose low attitude. One witness observed the ailerons come in with a corresponding turn to the right. The rate of turn increased and the nose dropped before it was lost from sight behind the T-hangars. The witness reported hearing the impact and as he was responding to the accident site, called 911.

First responders reported that the fuel selector valve was found in the OFF position when they arrived onsite. They also noted fuel leaking from the airplane.

The entire airplane came to rest on the northside of runway 25 adjacent to T-hangars, about mid-span of the T-hangar row. The airplane came to rest on a southerly heading facing the runway. The cockpit of the airplane came to rest upright.

A review of security video footage from across the field, showed the airplane in a right descending turn before it impacts the ground.

The airplane was moved to a secure T-hangar for further examination. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N14365
Model/Series: PA18 150
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: PA-18 LLC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: 
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction:
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility: 
Altimeter Setting:
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Hood River, OR (4S2)
Destination: Hood River, OR (4S2) 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 45.673889, -121.542222

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290.

Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM) volunteers Robin Reid, Ben Davidson, Matthew Titus and Marici Reid at last year’s Fly-In. Davidson and Titus died on September 6th, the result of a plane crash.

Matt Titus

Ben Davidson




















20 comments:

  1. R.I.P. Prayers for both families, a tragic loss for sure.

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  2. Bad news.

    May those lost RIP

    Praying that the familys find peace and closure

    7C

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  3. RIP

    This doesn't make sense. If the engine sputtered and lost power one can lay down a cub in 50 ft of runway or grass straight ahead.

    No flight is ever routine and the simplest things can get us if we let our guard down even for a split second. And like the proverbial saying goes even those things fly just high enough and fast enough to kill you.

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  4. I wonder if the plane stalled on runway heading or if the pilot tried to make the impossible turn. My condolences, it must have been a traumatic thing to watch.

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  5. Lose power lower the nose.

    Startle response can get in the way.

    Again, RIP

    7C

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  6. Elevator looks lined up with horizontal. Gustlock?
    Hope not.

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  7. Horizontal stabilizer looks to have significant nose up trim ... Looking at the slot where the tube of the leading edge passes through to the jack screw.

    Gust lock is usually the seat belt ... Makes it hard to board.

    7C

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  8. I couldn't understand how that much damage occurred in a fairly low altitude accident. Then I finally read all the way down to the bit about the jaws of life. Ah. . .

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  9. "crashed just after departure from Runway 25, 3040 x 75 ft. Traffic pattern: Left
    Obstructions: 42 ft. tree, 890 ft. from runway 25, 140 ft. right of centerline, 16:1 slope to clear

    No questions about their collective experiences, they knew exactly the 1-2-3 of a failed engine.

    Fly the airplane.
    Point it toward a landing site.
    Establish best-glide airspeed.

    https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ken+Jernstedt+Airfield-4S2/@45.6724006,-121.5391212,446m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x54960f27269e8483:0xca0271bc243d5349!8m2!3d45.6725243!4d-121.5366126

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  10. It seems to be extremely common for the pilot to continue to hold up elevator after power loss long enough to create a stall and fatal outcome.
    I get the impression that if it is not a reflex to push the stick forward as soon as the engine cuts out you’re a goner.

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  11. Probably fuel off, header tank full, 2.5, gallons, taxi run up and take off, climb out started fuel exhausted..
    Nose high, no altitude, no power, return to field failed attempt.
    To much to quick..
    Sadly...very sad!

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  12. Even with holding back the stick in a cub it will have pretty good "falling leaf" characteristics and can recover quickly and start flying again with less than a hundred feet of altitude loss. Unless they just dropped a wing, used aileron and spun it in?

    I echo everybody else above's comments of basically "WTF???" These guys were obviously "plane people" flying a super cub.

    I'd expect this of a Cirrus driver but not an aviator. Well I guess it can happen to anybody.

    Stay sharp and mentally rehearse your emergency procedures no matter what you fly.

    RIP

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  13. I knew both pilots well, and respected them and their flying experience. Pilot error is always a factor to consider, but my gut says no in this case.
    It had to be a combination of mechanical issues. Fuel starvation maybe although I doubt it.

    Rest In Peace,

    Leo Camilleri

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  14. Of all single engine aircraft the Super Cub is likely the one type that an experienced pilot would wish to be in if it lost an engine.

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  15. Was aircraft in private ownership of Terry Brandt?.......or was it a WAAAM aircraft? Sometimes they can sit to long...

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  16. One MUST push the nose over aggressively and instantly at the first burble or cough of the engine, especially on take off with a nose high and climb speed setting. Delaying for a mere second or two can be the difference between life and death. You can not recover from a stall/spin scenario that low to the ground, it's impossible. This is the exact reason there are so many accidents like this, because people delay for a few seconds, or they pull back on the stick because of frightened reflexes. Pilots, tell yourself that your engine IS going to fail on EVERY takeoff you make, and be ready to instantly push your nose over very aggressively. Prepare for it and practice frequently. RIP Guys. Sad day!

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  17. ^^ Pretty much what he said. ^^ I flew a Super Cub in a banner tow operation. The banner pick up and drop were aggressive pitch up and full power maneuvers. I was uncoordinated on one particular banner drop and my left wing stalled at about 150' AGL, I rolled into a 60 deg. bank very abruptly. If I had not pulled the power back while simultaneously applying full right rudder, right aileron and pushing the nose over >with lightening fast reflexes< I wouldn't be typing this right now. Closest I ever came to looking death in the eyes.

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  18. ETA; We had a banner plane crash the following season, same scenario as mine and the crash looked just like the one in this accident, he went straight down.

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  19. As a 5000+ CFIIME, I had an idiot young CFI accustomed only to Cessna 150 and 172 give me a BFR in my Colt (short wing Piper). He directed a max perf short field obstacle takeoff which I performed but at apex with the stubby nose pointed up at the sun he thought it would be a good idea to pull the mixture to idle cutoff. I Instantly slammed the yoke full forward, held there 3secs, back to ease into flare, touched, stopped, turned to him and said " you have no idea how close you came to killing both of us, do you ?" Like with those who might think actually failing an engine on a twin with mixture at rotation is "realistic training" I'd say there's never a good reason to "practice bleed". Also, BIG difference from instant sudden stoppage via mixture or mags off vs smoothly retarding throttle or even (here) sputtering stoppage from fuel selector off.

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