Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anchorage, Alaska 99516
Monday, September 30, 1991 17:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED HE SAW FUEL STREAMING FROM THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE WINGS. THE ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER, AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP IT RUNNING THROUGH THE USE OF THE FUEL PRIMER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE NOSED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING ON MUD FLATS AND WAS DAMAGED. THE AIRPLANE'S ORIGINAL 145 HP ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH A 200 HP ENGINE. THE ORIGINAL FUEL CAPS WITH INTEGRAL FUEL SYSTEM VENTS WERE STILL INSTALLED. THE WINGS OF THE AIRPLANE WERE NOT RECOVERED AND DISAPPEARED WITH THE TIDE; AS A RESULT, THE FUEL QUANTITY COULD NOT BE CHECKED. EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ENSURE THAT THE FUEL CAPS WERE SECURE, WHICH RESTULED IN A FUEL LEAK AND SUBSEQUENT FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/30/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone --
Event City ANCHORAGE
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99516
Event Date Year 1991
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 Not pertinent
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 Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 25
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 30
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) 2198
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46890
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:43AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1416H
NTSB Number ANC91LA156
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AERONCA
Aircraft Model SEDAN 15AC
Aircraft Series Identifier SEDAN 15AC
Aircraft Serial Number 15AC-480
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Jun 25 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3840
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAY APPLEBURY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12501 FURROW CREEK ROAD
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99516
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DARIN APPLEBURY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 12501 FURROW CREEK ROAD
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99516
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 No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City MONTAGUE ISLAND
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LHD
Destination City ANCHORAGE
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 10:35AM
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 --