Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hot Springs, Arkansas 71913
Thursday, October 4, 2007 16:10 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane received substantial damage during a forced landing on a lake. The pilot reported a total loss of engine power while maneuvering over a lake at 300-500 feet above ground level. Post-accident examination revealed no fuel in the left fuel tank and a mixture of water and fuel in the right fuel tank. The fuel selector was selected to the left tank. There was no fuel found in the gascolator. The airplane rudder was "folded" over. The pilot reported minor injuries.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The total loss of engine power due to inadequate fuel consumption calculations by the pilot resulting in fuel starvation while maneuvering over a lake at too low altitude for a safe landing. An additional cause was the unsuitable terrain encountered during landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/4/2007
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1610
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Hot Springs
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 71913
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 342840N
Event Location Longitude 0930546W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID HOT
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3600
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.9
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22884
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Oct 4 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 30 2008 4:08PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office LIT FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4157R
NTSB Number CHI08CA005
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1809076
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 580
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James East/ SuperCub, LLC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Little Rock
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72202
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Pilot
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Little Rock
Operator State AR
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 72211
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HOT
Departure City Hot Springs
Departure State AR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1555
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ORK
Destination City North Little Ro
Destination State AR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise - normal
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 3 2008 5:45PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --