Port Alsworth Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Port Alsworth, Alaska 99653
Wednesday, July 21, 1993 15:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER PERFORMING A TOUCH AND GO LANDING, AND REACHING APPROXIMATELY 250 FEET AGL DURING THE STEEP CLIMB OUT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED HARD BACK ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD JUST WASHED THE AIRPLANE AND STEAMED CLEANED THE ENGINE, AND WAS GOING TO FLY AROUND THE PATTERN A COUPLE TIMES TO DRY THINGS OFF. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE'S TANKS CONTAINED ABOUT 7 GALLONS OF FUEL. WATER WAS FOUND MIXED WITH THE FUEL IN THE GASCOLATOR.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FUEL CONTAMINATION AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRSPEED WITH WHICH TO MAKE A NORMAL LANDING FOLLOWING THE ENGINE POWER LOSS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/21/1993
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone --
Event City PORT ALSWORTH
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99653
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PORT ALSWORTH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Z30
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 293
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1500 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID Z30
Elevation of weather observation facility 293
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 18000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 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) 916
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 22 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N472GF
NTSB Number ANC93LA124
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
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18
Aircraft Serial Number 18-8608
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 28 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 6176
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVIS, JEREMY S.
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 2, BOX 852
Aircraft Owner City SOLDOTNA
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99669
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DAVIS, JEREMY S.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address RT 2, BOX 852
Operator City SOLDOTNA
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99669
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 Z30
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1450
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code Z30
Destination City
Destination State
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 23
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --