Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nikolai, Alaska 99691
Friday, October 21, 1994 13:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS FLYING IN MODERATE FALLING SNOW CONDITIONS FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK A LOG, DAMAGING THE GEAR AND FUSELAGE. AFTER LANDING, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DRAIN FUEL FROM THE FUEL TANKS AND HEARD AIR BEING SUCKED INTO THE TANKS UNTIL THE INTERNAL PRESSURE OF THE TANKS EQUALIZED. THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM VENTS ARE LOCATED ON THE BELLY OF THE FUSELAGE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE FALLING SNOW, AN OBSTRUCTION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM VENTS, RESTRICTION OF THE FUEL FLOW AND LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/21/1994
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone --
Event City NIKOLAI
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99691
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 10
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 Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1891
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 22 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 19 2002 9:59AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1428H
NTSB Number ANC95LA005
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 AERONCA
Aircraft Model SEDAN AR-15
Aircraft Series Identifier SEDAN AR-1
Aircraft Serial Number S15AC489
Certified Max Gross Weight 2050
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 Jan 24 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 119
Airframe Hours 2900
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WARNER, BONNIE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 0028
Aircraft Owner City BIG LAKE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99652
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WARNER, WALT
Operator Same as Owner? No
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code Z22
Departure City WILLOW
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1115
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TCT
Destination City TAKOTNA
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:25PM
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 --