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