Piper PA-18-150 accident near Harrisonburg, Virginia, June 4, 1997
On June 4, 1997 at about 8:09 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N4310Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harrisonburg, Virginia. It was a public-use 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
The pilot's preoccupation which led to fuel starvation of the selected tank and the subsequent forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 1997 · about 8:09 pm local time
- Place
- Harrisonburg, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4310Z · no longer on the register · serial 18-8620
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot and observer were flying an official survey flight for the state Game and Inland Fisheries. After 2 hours 20 minutes, they were returning to the airport when the engine began to 'spit and sputter'. The pilot was able to get the engine running again for about 5 seconds, and then declared that they were going to land. The pilot spotted a grass strip and attempted a downwind landing, when he noticed a mobile home at the end of the strip. The pilot reported that he ran the right wing into a tree in order to avoid the home. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the right fuel tank was empty and the left tank was full. The fuel selector was set on the right tank. The pilot reported that he was preoccupied during the flight and forgot to switch tanks.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 2,960 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,646 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 22, 1997; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SHD Weyers Cave VA at 5:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.