Piper PA-18A 150 accident near Garrison, Missouri, April 14, 2023
On April 14, 2023 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1957 Piper PA-18A 150, registered N7278D, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Garrison, Missouri. 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 inadequate fuel planning which resulted in fuel starvation, a loss of engine power and a subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2023 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Garrison, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A 150 NO SERIES, built 1957 · all PA-18A 150s on the register
- Registration
- N7278D · registry record · serial 18-5691
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before departure on the second leg of a cross-country flight in the newly purchased airplane, the pilot saw that the fuel sight gauge was indicating each fuel tank was 1/4 full. He calculated that the airplane contained a total of 10 gallons of fuel. Twenty minutes into the flight, the engine sputtered. He configured the airplane for a climb and increased power, at which time the engine sputtered again so he reduced the power to idle. He initiated a 360° turn for a forced landing and applied full flaps but decided to initiate a go-around due to a tailwind. During the climb, the engine lost all power. The airplane descended into trees and impacted terrain. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation. The right tank was breached from impact and did not contain any fuel. The left wing fuel tank had only traces of fuel when the fuel line was disconnected; the fuel strainer and bowl also had only traces of fuel. A fuel system had been installed on the airplane that provided the pilot the ability to select both fuel tanks for usage (this was not available in the factory installations). The usable fuel amount was 17.2 gallons per tank (0.8 gallons unusable). The fuel selector was found positioned on BOTH after the accident. The pilot added that he calculated a fuel burn of about 10 gallons per hour (gph) from his first leg of the cross-country flight. Using the pilot’s calculation, the airplane should have had about 3.4 gallons of fuel after a 20-minute flight. The pilot further reported that he only checked the fuel sight gauges and did not visually verify the fuel level in each tank. As the left tank was void of fuel and undamaged, the fuel calculations suggest that the engine likely lost all power due to 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Fuel starvation during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 243.2 hours in all; 7.6 in this make and model; 42.6 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 169.3 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 5, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,361.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 2,361 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3M0 Lakeview AR at 8:10 pm
- Destination: SGF Springfield MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from KSGF, 30 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSGF 141952Z 17010KT 10SM CLR 25/09 A2971 RMK AO2 SLP053 T02500094
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 NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.