Merrill Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Saturday, January 22, 1994 13:33 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY DESCENT AND LANDING AT THE AIRPORT HE HAD JUST DEPARTED FROM. THE PILOT DID NOT USE A CONTAINER TO RECOVER THE FUEL FROM THE 'LOW POINT' FUEL SUMP ON THE BELLY OF THE PLANE DURING HIS PREFLIGHT ACTIVITIES. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE FUEL ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE OR WITH THE ENGINE DURING A POST ACCIDENT RUNUP. WHILE REMOVING THE LEFT WING'S FUEL TANK TO REPAIR THE WING, ICE CRYSTALS WERE FOUND IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FUEL STARVATION FROM WATER AND/OR ICE CRYSTALS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER PREFLIGHT OF THE FUEL SUMPS BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/22/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1333
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City ANCHORAGE
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99501
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MERRILL FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MRI
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 137
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1337 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MRI
Elevation of weather observation facility 137
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 9000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 22 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1240
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:22AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9193W
NTSB Number ANC94LA030
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28
Aircraft Serial Number 2810551
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 66
Airframe Hours 2407
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LARRY DRISKILL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12151 WOODWAY COURT
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99516
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1233
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ENA
Destination City KENAI
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 6
Runway Length 3999
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --