Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Port Alsworth, Alaska 99653
Thursday, September 3, 1992 16:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING TAKEOFF FROM A SMALL LAKE, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ALLOWED A STUDENT PILOT TO MAKE A FLAT, STEP TURN TAKEOFF. DUE TO LOW FUEL IN THE TANKS, THE FUEL PICKUP UNPORTED AND THE ENGINE STOPPED AND STARTED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THE INSTRUCTOR WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER ENGINE POWER OR RETURN TO THE LAKE PRIOR TO HITTING TREES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE IMPROPER MANEUVER THAT UNPORTED THE LOW FUEL TANK. THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AT THE SITE OF FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/3/1992
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone --
Event City PORT ALSWORTH
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99653
Event Date Year 1992
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
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 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
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 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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2621
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 3 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46900
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:17PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8420D
NTSB Number ANC92LA156
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22
Aircraft Serial Number 22-5675
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
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 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 100
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GLEN R. ALSWORTH
Aircraft Owner Street Address THE FARM LODGE BOX 1
Aircraft Owner City PORT ALSWORTH
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99653
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GLEN R. ALSWORTH
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2425 MERRILL FIELD DRIVE
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99501
Operator Code HXXC
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
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 Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:17PM
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 --