# Accident 19970528015769A: Piper J5A, Wasilla, AK, May 28, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 28, 1997, 21:45 local time
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10
- Aircraft: N31164, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31164-2006-02-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J5A (registry code 7100702, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j5a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C75 series (registry code 17005, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J5A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA079) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970528015769A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) ON MAY 28, 1997, ABOUT 2100 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPPED PIPER J-5 AIRPLANE, N31164, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING IN A GRAVEL PIT NEAR WASILLA, ALASKA. THE NON CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE LOCAL, 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT OPERATED IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT WAS INTERVIEWED ON THE TELEPHONE BY THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE ON MAY 29. THE PILOT RELATED THAT HE IS NOT A CERTIFICATED PILOT, AND THAT HE TYPICALLY OPERATES THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE FROM HIS RURAL PRIVATE AIRSTRIP, LOCATED NEAR WASILLA. HE SAID HE DEPARTED HIS AIRSTRIP ABOUT 2000, AND WAS FLYING LOCALLY WHEN THE ENGINE SURGED, AND LOST POWER. HE SAID HE TRIED CARBURETOR HEAT, BUT THAT DID NOT RESTORE POWER. HE MADE A SUCCESSFUL APPROACH TO THE HIGHER ROAD AIRSTRIP, AND WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY'S SURFACE, WHEN THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER. THE PILOT SAID HE SHOULD HAVE LANDED ANYWAY, BUT ELECTED TO CLIMB AND RETURN TO HIS OWN AIRSTRIP. SHORTLY AFTER PASSING OVER THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE ENGINE AGAIN LOST ALL POWER, AND THE PILOT MADE A HARD, FORCED LANDING IN A NEARBY GRAVEL PIT. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS UNSURE WHAT CAUSED THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, BUT BELIEVES IT MAY HAVE BEEN FUEL STARVATION. HE SAID THE LEFT FUEL TANK HAD FUEL, BUT THINKS THE RIGHT MAY HAVE BEEN EMPTY. AN ALASKA STATE TROOPER RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT SITE AND LOCATED THE PILOT AT THE NEARBY WALMART STORE IN WASILLA. ACCORDING TO THE TROOPER'S REPORT, THE PILOT SAID HE HAD JUST PUT TWO NEW CYLINDERS ON THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE, AND HE NEEDED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE FOR TWO HOURS, BUT HAD ENGINE TROUBLE AND HAD TO LAND. THE TROOPER ALSO NOTED THAT ONE WITNESS HAD OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE FLYING VERY ERRATIC AND LOW AROUND HIS HOUSE, AND THE WITNESS THOUGHT THAT, AT LEAST ONCE, THE AIRPLANE WAS GOING TO HIT THE HOUSE. THE PILOT WAS NOT A CERTIFICATED AIRMAN OR AVIATION MECHANIC. HIS REPORT TO THE NTSB INDICATED NO FLIGHT TIME, OR THAT ANY OF THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE AIRPLANE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC97LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA079), May 29, 1997: Piper J-5 (N31164), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, and the noncertificated pilot's decision to perform a go-around after a suitable landing site had been attained. A factor associated with the…

## Other reports on N31164 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19830709051869I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830709051869I), Jul 9, 1983: Piper J5A (N31164), Nushagah, AK, Minor damage. Stalled while maneuvering near the ground at a low airspeed. Settled to the ground. Impact damage minor.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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