Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Juneau, Alaska 99801
Sunday, May 19, 2013 6:35 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that the start, taxi, and before-takeoff checks were all normal. However, just after takeoff, as the airplane climbed through about 350 feet above ground level, the engine suddenly lost all power. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot turned back toward the beach and ditched the airplane in the ocean. The airplane sank in about 400 feet of water and was not recovered; therefore, it was presumed to be substantially damaged.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to the inability to recover the airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/19/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 635
Event Time Zone --
Event City Juneau
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99801
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 582435N
Event Location Longitude 1345109W
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 653 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 113
Weather Observation Facility ID PAJN
Elevation of weather observation facility 25
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 7500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.38
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31934
NTSB Notification Source FAA Alaskan Regional Operation
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 31 2013 6:48PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5372H
NTSB Number ANC13LA048
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-16
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 16-179
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4000
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name HOLMES ROBERT A
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 HOLMES ROBERT A
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City JUNEAU
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99801
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 --
Departure City Juneau
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 645
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Juneau
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 31 2013 6:49PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --