GENERAL INFORMATION FOR NTSB REPORT: ANC00LA064
Data Source |
NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE |
NTSB Report Nbr |
ANC00LA064 |
Event Id |
20001212X21138 |
Local Date |
06/05/2000 |
Local Time |
1200 |
State |
AK |
Airport Name |
GULKANA |
Event Type |
ACCIDENT |
Injury Severity |
MINOR |
Record Status |
FINAL |
Mid Air Collision |
NO |
Event Location |
OFF AIRPORT/AIRSTRIP |
WEATHER INFORMATION
Weather Briefing Complete |
UNKNOWN |
Basic Weather Conditions |
VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL COND |
Light Condition |
DAY |
Cloud Condition |
SCATTERED |
Cloud Height above Ground Level (ft) |
6500 |
Ceiling Height above Ground Level (ft) |
0 |
Cloud Type |
NONE |
Visibility RVR (ft) |
0 |
Visibility RVV (sm) |
0 |
Visibility (sm) |
10 |
Wind Direction (deg) |
270 |
Wind Condition Flag |
U |
Wind Speed (knots) |
4 |
Wind Condition Indicated |
Unknown |
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
Aircraft 1
Type of Operation |
PART 91: GENERAL AVIATION |
Registration Number |
N1724P |
Aircraft Make |
PIPER |
Aircraft Model |
PA22 |
Aircraft Series |
UNDESIGNATED SERIES |
Aircraft Damage |
SUBSTANTIAL |
Aircraft Fire |
NONE |
Aircraft Explosion |
NONE |
Aircraft Type |
AIRPLANE |
Aircraft Homebuilt |
UNKNOWN |
Phase of Flight |
UNDEFINED |
Aircraft Use |
PERSONAL |
Flight Plan Filed |
NONE |
Operator Name |
RICHARD LACH |
Operator Doing Business As |
|
Owner Name |
HOLLY CLARK |
Number of Seats |
2 |
Number of Engines |
1 |
ELT Installed |
YES |
ELT Operated |
NO |
Departure Airport Id |
GKN |
Departure City |
GAKONA |
Departure State |
ALASKA |
Last Departure Point |
NO |
Destination Airport Id |
CZ0 |
Destination City |
CHISTOCHINA |
Destination State |
ALASKA |
Runway Id |
14 |
Runway Length |
5000 |
Runway Width |
100 |
Air Carrier Operating Certificates |
NO |
Air Carrier Other Operating Certificates |
UNKNOWN |
Rotocraft/Agriculture Operating Certificate |
UNKNOWN |
Cert Max Gross Wgt |
2000 |
ENGINE INFORMATION
Aircraft 1 - Engine : #1
Engine Manufactuer
| Lycoming |
Engine Model
| O-320 |
Engine Horsepower
| 150 |
Engine Thrust
| HP |
Carb/Injection
| CARBURETOR |
INJURY INFORMATION
Injury Summary for Aircraft 1
|
Fatal |
Serious |
Minor |
None |
Crew |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Pass |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Sequence of Events for Aircraft 1
Occurrence #1 LOSS OF ENGINE POWER
Phase of Operation: TAKEOFF
Events Sequence for Occurrence #1 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
1 |
2 |
REASON FOR OCCURRENCE UNDETERMINED |
NO MODIFIER SPECIFIED |
NO PERSON SPECIFIED |
CAUSE |
Occurrence #2 FORCED LANDING
Phase of Operation: DESCENT - EMERGENCY
Events Sequence for Occurrence #2 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
Occurrence #3 IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER
Phase of Operation: EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER TAKEOFF
Events Sequence for Occurrence #3 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
2 |
1 |
OBJECT |
VEHICLE |
|
|
3 |
1 |
TERRAIN CONDITION |
DITCH |
|
|
AIRCRAFT 1 PRELIMINARY REPORT
On June 5, 2000, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, N1724P, a Piper PA-22 airplane which had been converted to a tailwheel configuration, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing at mile 119 of the Richardson Highway near Gulkana, Alaska, at 62 degrees, 19 minutes north latitude, 145 degrees, 21 minutes west longtitude. The solo private pilot received minor injuries. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), during a telephone interview on June 5, that he took off from a landing strip in Gakona to return to his home about 45 miles north. He stated that immediately after takeoff, about 200 feet above the ground, the engine lost total power. He said he prepared to land on the highway, but the presence of an automobile made him land off the side of the road. The airplane went into a ditch, the right landing gear separated from the airplane, and the empennage and left horizontal stabilizer were damaged. The pilot told the NTSB IIC that he had flown from his home, to the Wrangell Mountains, to Gulkana. He stated he had not refueled the airplane since his original departure from his home the day prior to the accident.
Postaccident inspection by an Alaska State Trooper about three hours after the accident revealed the fuel selector valve was on, the left side fuel tank was about 3/4 full, the right side fuel tank was nearly empty, and the throttle control cable was connected. After the airplane was placed in a level attitude, fuel was drained from both wing tank sump drains. No anomalies were noted with the engine during a subsequent inspection by an FAA airworthiness inspector, and an independent mechanic.
The pilot was interviewed by an FAA airworthiness inspector on June 9. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot did not remember which fuel tank was selected during takeoff, but believed it was the right tank. There is a placard in the airplane which states "Right tank only in level flight when less than 1/3 full." This placard is required in the Type Certificate Data Sheet. During a telephone interview with the NTSB IIC on June 13, and in his NTSB Pilot/Operator report, the pilot stated he was positive that he took off with the fuel selector valve in the left tank position.
AIRCRAFT 1 FINAL REPORT
The pilot said that immediately after takeoff, about 200 feet above the ground, the engine lost total power. He said he prepared to land on the highway, but the presence of an automobile made him land off the side of the road. The airplane went into a ditch, the right landing gear separated from the airplane, and the empennage and left horizontal stabilizer were damaged. Postaccident inspection by an Alaska State Trooper revealed fuel in both wing tanks. No anomalies were noted with the engine during a subsequent inspection by an FAA airworthiness inspector, and an independent mechanic. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot did not remember which fuel tank was selected during takeoff, but believed it was the right tank. There is a placard in the airplane which states 'Right tank only in level flight when less than 1/3 full.' During a telephone interview with the NTSB IIC, and in his NTSB Pilot/Operator report, the pilot stated he was positive that he took off with the fuel selector valve in the left tank position.
AIRCRAFT 1 CAUSE REPORT
The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
END REPORT