(Unimproved Beach) Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Polly Creek, Alaska 99639
Thursday, August 12, 1982 18:20 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT LANDED ON THE BEACH NEAR THE MOUTH OF POLLY CREEK TO GO FISHING. AFTER FISHING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. HE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FILLER CAP ON THE LEFT MAIN TANK. THIS OCCURRED WHEN FUEL CROSS-FLOWED FROM THE RIGHT AUXILIARY TANK. THE PILOT TURNED OFF THE LEFT MAIN AND RIGHT AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS TO STOP THE CROSS FEED. AFTER SEVERAL MORE HOURS, THE TIDE BEGAN COMING IN AND THE PILOT HURRIED HIS PREFLIGHT TO GET OFF THE BEACH DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE COUGHED AT LIFT-OFF, PROMOTING THE PILOT TO ABORT. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED 2 OR 3 TIMES ON THE BEACH WHICH WAS UNEVEN, THEN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR ENTERED THE SURF. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE VEERED AND NOSED OVER IN DEEPER WATER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD PLANNED TO TAKEOFF USING THE FULL LEFT TANK. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE FOUND THE RIGHT FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON, BUT THE LEFT MAIN TANK WAS ONLY PARTIALLY ON. HE BELIEVED THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SPUTTER FROM FUEL STARVATION. BEFORE RECOVERY, THE PLANE WAS FURTHER DAMAGED BY THE SURF.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/12/1982
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1820
Event Time Zone --
Event City POLLY CREEK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99639
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport (UNIMPROVED BEACH)
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 65
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 225
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 2367
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2701M
NTSB Number ANC82DA071
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-12
Aircraft Serial Number 12-1205
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 66
Airframe Hours 1958
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GARY S. LIEPITZ
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1853 E. 27TH AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99504
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GARY S. LIEPITZ
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1853 E. 27TH AVENUE
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99504
Operator Code
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City POLLY CREEK
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1820
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LHD
Destination City ANCHORAGE
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 10000
Runway Width 25
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --