N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Humboldt, South Dakota 57035
Saturday, August 10, 2013 15:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the engine stopped producing power shortly after takeoff. He initially tried to land on a road, but the engine momentarily re-started before it stopped completely. The pilot then made a forced landing to a corn field, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and airframe. Examination of the engine found water in the carburetor. The pilot stated that when he placed auto gas in the airplane's fuel tanks earlier that day, he used gas cans from his shop, which most likely contained water. He also did not sump the wing tanks prior to the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadvertent addition of water into the fuel system and his improper preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/10/2013
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Humboldt
Event State SOUTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 57035
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 433742N
Event Location Longitude 0970424W
Event Location Airport N/A
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
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 --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31855
NTSB Notification Source KC ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 26 2013 11:43AM
User who most recently changed record yeal
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N230AK
NTSB Number CEN13CA481
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 SUPER 18 LLC
Aircraft Model S18-STD
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number S18-STD-01
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 18 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 333.9
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name SUPER 18 LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City VALLEY SPRINGS
Aircraft Owner State SD
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 57068-6730
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name SUPER 18 LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City VALLEY SPRINGS
Operator State SD
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 57068-6730
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 None
Departure City Brandon
Departure State SD
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Humboldt
Destination State SD
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 26 2013 11:43AM
User who most recently changed record yeal
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --