Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Denali Park, Alaska 99755
Wednesday, March 30, 2005 10:00 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The solo private pilot stated that prior to the 14 CFR Part 91, personal cross-country flight, he preheated the airplane engine prior to takeoff. During the takeoff roll the engine started running rough. The pilot said he applied carburetor heat and continued the takeoff because there was not enough runway left to stop. The engine lost all power about 5 miles south of the airport, and during the ensuing emergency forced landing, the left wing struck a tree. The airplane came to rest inverted in a creek. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane, but he suspected ice in a gas line, or restricted airflow to the carburetor from fresh snow, or possibly a stuck valve. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage during the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power during takeoff and cruise flight for an undetermined reason, which resulted in an emergency descent/landing, and collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/30/2005
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City Denali Park
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99755
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 633910N
Event Location Longitude 1485408W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) -12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 19082
NTSB Notification Source FAA Anchorage, ROC
NTSB Notification Date Mar 30 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 28 2006 12:35PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Anchorage FSDO-03

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2204N
NTSB Number ANC05LA053
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 140
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 12440
Certified Max Gross Weight 1450
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 1240
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Christopher Ho
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Bethel
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99559
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
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 No
Departure Airport Code INR
Departure City Denali National
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PABE
Destination City Bethel
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Descent - emergency
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 30 2005 1:39PM
User who most recently changed record PETL
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --