Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wasilla, Alaska 99687
Saturday, September 17, 1994 13:25 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED LOW VISIBILITY AND STRONG HEADWINDS, AND DEVIATED SOUTH OF HIS INTENDED ROUTE. HE MADE A RADIO REQUEST FOR FUEL, AND HE AND ANOTHER PILOT LANDED AT SKWENTNA. HE WAS PROVIDED WITH ABOUT 3 TO 4 GALS OF FUEL FROM THE OTHER AIRPLANE. THE PILOT THEN DEPARTED FOR HIS DESTINATION. THE ENGINE QUIT ABOUT 2 MI SHORT OF THE DESTINATION STRIP. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING THE FORCED LANDING. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED TTHAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. IN ADDITION, FUEL STAINING WAS OSERVED ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE LEFT WING FROM THE FUEL CAP TO THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE WING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL WAS AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SIPHONING OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL CAP.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/17/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1325
Event Time Zone --
Event City WASILLA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99687
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1678
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 17 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1415
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Sep 25 2006 3:56PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9359D
NTSB Number ANC94LA140
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-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18-150
Aircraft Serial Number 18-6671
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EISENHOWER, CHARLES A.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 871124
Aircraft Owner City WASILLA
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99687
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
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City SKWENTNA
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1245
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --