Birchwood Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Birchwood, Alaska 99567
Saturday, May 23, 1992 7:20 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AND DURING THE TAKEOFF PHASE AT 50 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. HE LANDED ON THE OVERRUN AND GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE TO AVOID STRIKING THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY FENCE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE SHOWED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OF THE ENGINE, ITS SYSTEMS, FUEL SYSTEM, OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE AIRPLANE WAS USING A CLEAR FUEL WHICH LOOKED AND SMELLED LIKE AUTOMOTIVE FUEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL GROUND LOOP.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/23/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 720
Event Time Zone --
Event City BIRCHWOOD
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99567
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport BIRCHWOOD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Z15
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 96
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 90
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 40
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 30
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
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 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) 717
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48129
Date of most recent change to record Aug 10 2001 4:00AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7869H
NTSB Number ANC92LA076
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-12-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-12-150
Aircraft Serial Number 12-772
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 20 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 24
Airframe Hours 3412
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARTA HERSHCHYSHYN
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 672125
Aircraft Owner City CHUGIAK
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99567
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DONALD BARBER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 446
Operator City CHUGIAK
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99567
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 700
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 10 2001 4:00AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 1
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --