Piper PA-18-A-150 accident near Sun City, Florida, January 15, 2001
On January 15, 2001 at about 9:04 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-A-150, registered N6971D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sun City, Florida (Manatee County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, A FACTOR WAS WEATHER CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR CARBURETOR ICING
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 2001 · about 9:04 pm local time
- Place
- Sun City, Florida · Manatee County Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-A-150 · all PA-18-A-150s on the register
- Registration
- N6971D · registry record · serial 18-5497
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff, during the climb, the engine lost power and quit. Efforts by the pilot to restore full power failed, and he selected an off-airport emergency landing area. Examination of the airplane disclosed an undetermined amount of fuel onboard. The engine ran normally during examination. A review of weather data disclosed weather conditions favorable for carburetor icing . No evidence of mechanical engine failure was found.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 1, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,038 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2000; 25 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 48X Manatee FL at 9:00 pm
- Destination: SPG St. Petersburg FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 3,685 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from SRQ, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.