Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sitka, Alaska 99835
Sunday, April 14, 2002 6:40 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The commercial certificated pilot departed on a cross-country personal flight, and was in cruise flight about 4,000 feet msl. The engine suddenly began to lose power, and then quit. The pilot declared an emergency, and made a forced landing on a beach. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a small rise along the beach, and then nosed over. The airplane received damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the engine failed to disclose any mechanical malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power during cruise flight for an undertermined reason. A factor in the accident was rough/uneven beach terrain at the site of the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/14/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 640
Event Time Zone --
Event City SITKA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99835
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 571400N
Event Location Longitude 1352100W
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 640 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 155
Weather Observation Facility ID PASI
Elevation of weather observation facility 26
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.42
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12549
NTSB Notification Source FAA REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER
NTSB Notification Date Apr 14 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 734
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 16 2003 4:27PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-AL-JNU FSDO 05

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1272H
NTSB Number ANC02LA030
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aeronca
Aircraft Model 15AC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15AC-286
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 Jul 31 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1142
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CARL M. GONDER JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City JUNEAU
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99801
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name JAMES L. MARRS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City SITKA
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99835
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 PASI
Departure City SITKA
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 622
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PAGS
Destination City GUSTAVUS
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise - normal
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 23 2002 6:29PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --