Piper PA 18-150 accident near Jasper, Texas, October 15, 2016
On October 15, 2016 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1959 Piper PA 18-150, registered N9473D, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Jasper, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined, because an examination of the airplane did not identify a specific reason for the loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 2016 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jasper, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 18-150 A150, built 1959 · all PA 18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N9473D · registry record · serial 18-7019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot departed on a local flight. Upon climbing to 1,000 ft, the engine experienced a partial loss of power and started to "miss." The pilot switched fuel tanks and "pumped" the throttle, but the engine did not respond. Unable to maintain altitude, he selected an area for the forced landing. The airplane came to rest wing down and nose low among several trees. Fuel was found at the accident site. The airplane was later recovered and examined at a salvage facility. The examination noted several maintenance discrepancies; the wood under the battery box located in the aft section of the airplane appeared rotted, the engine muffler exhibited significant corrosion; 2 of the 4 cylinders' exhaust and intake valve/rocker arms were improperly assembled; and both wing fuel tank gas caps were an aftermarket, non-vented type. A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that 1.49 hours had accumulated since the last annual inspection, and 46.36 hours had accumulated since an engine top overhaul. None of these discrepancies were noted in the inspection or overhaul logbook entries; however, none would have accounted for the loss of engine power. A review of the temperature and dew point at the departure airport indicated that the airplane was operating in an environment conducive to the risk of carburetor ice formation at glide and cruise power settings; however, the airplane was climbing when the engine lost power, so the formation of carburetor ice was unlikely. Despite the maintenance discrepancies, the investigation could not identify a specific abnormality that accounted for the loss of engine power.
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 (partial) during enroute defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › (general) › Inadequate inspection
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,718 hours in all; 826 in this make and model; 7.1 in the last 90 days; 1.6 in the last 30 days; 1,718 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,655 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Jasper TX
- Destination: Jasper TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from KJAS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN17LA018.