# Accident 19981219033559A: Piper PA23160, Anchorage, AK, December 19, 1998 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: December 19, 1998, 15:15 local time - Place: Anchorage, AK - Airport: Merrill Field Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 61.2103° N, 149.8891° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2103&lon=-149.8891&mi=10 - Aircraft: N4185P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4185P-1999-03-26) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-23-160 (registry code 7102304, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA23160 - Reported engine: LYC O320B1A - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 7,567 total, 150 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA018) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981219033559A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19)ON DECEMBER 19, 1998, ABOUT 1515 ALASKA STANDARD TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPPED PIPER PA-23-160 AIRPLANE, N4185P, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING TAKEOFF FROM MERRILL FIELD, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) MAINTENANCE FERRY FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE SOLO AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB) INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE ON DECEMBER 21, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO FERRY THE AIRPLANE TO THE ANCHORAGE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, LOCATED ABOUT 3 MILE FROM MERRILL FIELD. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT ANNUAL INSPECTION, AND THAT HE HAD OBTAINED AN FAA FERRY PERMIT FOR THE ONE-TIME MAINTENANCE FERRY FLIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB FROM RUNWAY 24, ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY, ENGINE POWER WAS LOST ON THE RIGHT ENGINE, FOLLOWED BY A SURGE IN ENGINE POWER, AND THEN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER ON THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD PROGRESSED BEYOND A POINT WHERE HE COULD SAFELY ABORT THE TAKEOFF, AND HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF WITH ONE ENGINE OPERATING. HE SAID THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, AIRSPEED, AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DUE TO THE INOPERATIVE ENGINE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AND MADE A FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES DESCRIBED SEEING THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE DEPART TO THE WEST, AND SAID THE FLIGHT PATH WAS "VERY LOW AND SLOW, AND THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE FLYING SIDEWAYS WHILE IT MADE A RIGHT TURN." THE WITNESSES NOTED THAT THE LEFT ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT A VERY HIGH POWER SETTING, AND THE RIGHT PROPELLER WAS ROTATING VERY SLOWLY. THE AIRPLANE DESCEND INTO A RAILROAD MAINTENANCE YARD, STRUCK A POWER LINE, AND A MAINTENANCE TOOL SHED. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE, WINGS AND TAIL. (.4) THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO FERRY THE AIRPLANE TO THE ANCHORAGE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, LOCATED ABOUT 3 MILES FROM MERRILL FIELD. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT ANNUAL INSPECTION, AND THAT HE HAD OBTAINED AN FAA FERRY PERMIT FOR THE ONE-TIME MAINTENANC E FERRY FLIGHT. HE ADDED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD NOT BEEN OPERATED FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS, AND THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS STORED OUTSIDE WITH THE MAIN FUEL TANKS ABOUT 3/4 FULL. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB FROM RUNWAY 24, ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY, ENGINE POWER WAS LOST ON THE RIGHT ENGINE, FOLLOWED BY A SURGE IN ENGINE POWER, AND THEN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER ON THE RIGHT ENGINE. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD PROGRESSED BEYOND A POINT WHERE HE COULD SAFELY ABORT THE TAKEOFF, AND HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF WITH ONE ENGINE OPERATING. HE SAID THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, AIRSPEED, AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DUE TO THE INOPERATIVE ENGINE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AND MADE A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO A RAILROAD MAINTENANCE YARD, STRUCK A POWER LINE, AND A MAINTENANCE TOOL SHED. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE, WINGS, AND TAIL. A FUEL SAMPLE TAKEN FROM THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE EXHIBITED VISIBLE CONTAMINANTS. ## 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 ANC99LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA018), Dec 19, 1998: Piper PA-23-160 (N4185P), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.