# Accident 19980206002489A: Piper PA31350, Nome, AK, February 6, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 6, 1998, 16:15 local time
- Place: Nome, AK
- Airport: Nome
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: FWRA
- Location: 64.7100° N, 164.6192° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7100&lon=-164.6192&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7678L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7678L-2000-06-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-350 (registry code 7103110, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31350
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540J2BD
- People aboard: 10
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,400 total, 300 in this make and model, 260 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA020) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980206002489A

## Narrative

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

FUEL EXHUASTION NEAR DESTINATION. LANDED GEAR UP ON SNOW AND ICE COVERED SHORLINE. (.4) THE ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI FLIGHT WAS NEARING ITS DESTINATION WITH NINE PASSENGERS ABOARD WHEN THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY DUE TO IMPENDING FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT REPORTED BOTH ENGINES STOPPED AS HE APPROACHED THE COASTLINE OF THE BERING SEA NEAR NOME, ALASKA. HE WAS ABLE TO GLIDE THE AIRPLANE TO SHORE, AND LANDED WHEELS-UP ON THE ICE AND SNOW COVERED TERRAIN. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCLOSED NO PREEXISTING MECHANICAL ABNORMALITIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE WING FUEL TANKS, AND YIELDED A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 5 OUNCES. THE PILOT WROTE IN HIS REPORT TO THE NTSB THAT THERE WERE NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE'S HOBB'S METER INDICATED 4.2 HOURS HAD ELAPSED FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE FLIGHT UNTIL FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT INDICATED HE THOUGHT HE HAD 4.5 HOURS OF FUEL ABOARD WHEN HE STARTED THE FLIGHT. (-23) NO NARRATIVE.

## 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 ANC98LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA020), Feb 6, 1998: Piper PA-31-350 (N7678L), Nome, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's poor in-flight planning/decision which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power.

## Other reports on N7678L (3)

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

- [Incident 19920412013839I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920412013839I), Apr 12, 1992: Piper PA31350 (N7678L), Fairbanks, AK, Minor damage. Lost power on right engine during climbout. Returned. Landed safely.
- [Incident 19901213061939I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901213061939I), Dec 13, 1990: Piper PA31350 (N7678L), Kaltag, AK, Minor damage. Landed long. Unable to stop on a snow covered gravel strip. Reversed direction and halted in snowbank.
- [Incident 19831108070649I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831108070649I), Nov 8, 1983: Piper PA31350 (N7678L), Johnson City, NY. Engine began to malfunction. Kept engine running to alternate airport. # 4 cylinder found separating from crankcase

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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