Super 18 LLC S18-STD accident near Humboldt, South Dakota, August 10, 2013
On August 10, 2013 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Super 18 LLC S18-STD, registered N230AK, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Humboldt, South Dakota. 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 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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2013 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Humboldt, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Super 18 LLC S18-STD
- Registration
- N230AK · no longer on the register · serial S18-STD-01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
- Fuel contamination during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › (general) › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not inspected
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 333.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 2013
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Super 18 LLC
The flight
- Departed from: None Brandon SD at 5:00 pm
- Destination: Humboldt SD
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.