Piper PA18 accident near Palm City, Florida, May 27, 2019
On May 27, 2019 at about 7:10 pm local time, a 1966 Piper PA18, registered N70699, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Palm City, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2019 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Palm City, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA18 150, built 1966 · all PA18s on the register
- Registration
- N70699 · registry record · serial 18-8357
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot and a passenger were returning from a local flight and were cleared by the tower controller to enter a right downwind leg. The pilot started a descent and switched to the right fuel tank. Shortly after receiving landing clearance, the engine lost all power. The pilot informed the controller that the airplane could not reach the runway and that he was going to land the airplane in a field. During the landing, the airplane impacted a chain-link fence resulting in substantial damage to the wing and fuselage. An on-scene examination revealed that the fuel selector was in the off position. The left and right wing fuel tanks were drained during recovery; the right wing tank was full and the left wing tank was empty. The fuel filter bowl contained no residual fuel. Although the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of carburetor icing at descent power, it is most likely that the fuel selector was not positioned correctly by the pilot which resulted in fuel starvation.
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
- Fuel starvation during approach defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 26, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SUA Stuart FL at 6:25 pm
- Destination: SUA Stuart FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 7:40 pm from KSUA, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on September 12, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement to FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement - Communication Summary Inspector J. Mygatt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos - FAA Supplied Images | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Miscellaneous Information - Carburetor Icing Chart with Plotted Local Weather | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.