OpenAirDocs.org

20030713037269A

Accident · Destroyed
Open the Markdown

FAA accident report · Cessna 401A · Gustavus, AK · July 13, 2003

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

© OpenStreetMap
Date
July 13, 2003 · 21:33 local
Place
Gustavus, AK
Phase of flight
Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N6296Q
NTSB investigation
NTSBANC03LA076
Reported as
Cessna 401A
Reported engine
Continental TSIO520*
People aboard
4
Fatal injuries
4
N6296QRegistration cancelled Apr 29, 2004 · Cessna 401AS/N 401A0096 · Built 1969Airframe modelCessna 401AEngine modelContinental TSIO-520 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) At approximately 2130 Alaska standard time a CE-401-A aircraft ditched in the water approximately 12 miles e of Gustavus, AK. The pilot contacted anc center reporting fuel exhaustion. After impact with the water the aircraft remained upright and afloat for approx. 2 minutes according to 2 survivors. Also according to these 2 survivors 4 people (including the 2 survivors interviewed) managed to egress the aircraft prior to it's sinking, and 2 people did not egress. One of those who egressed was the pilot, gary ostler along with his 18 year old son. This aircraft was on an IFR flight plan, and had left port angeles, WA with a planned fuel stop in ketchikan. According to survivor's statements the aircraft's last stop before the accident was port angeles. Based on this statement the planned fuel stop was evidently bypassed. The survivors made shore after approx. 1.5 hours of swimming. The pilot and his son were last seen afloat with a duffle bag for floatation assistance by the 2 interviewed survivors. Coast guard is continuing the search for these other two survivors. The aircraft is presumed lost with 2 people still on board.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 2130 ALASKA STANDARD TIME A CE-401-A AIRCRAFT DITCHED IN THE WATER APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES E OF GUSTAVUS, AK. THE PILOT CONTACTED ANC CENTER REPORTING FUEL EXHAUSTION. AFTER IMPACT WITH THE WATER THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED UPRIGHT AND AFLOAT FOR APPROX. 2 MINUTES ACCORDING TO 2 SURVIVORS. ALSO ACCORDING TO THESE 2 SURVIVORS 4 PEOPLE (INCLUDING THE 2 SURVIVORS INTERVIEWED) MANAGED TO EGRESS THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO IT'S SINKING, AND 2 PEOPLE DID NOT EGRESS. ONE OF THOSE WHO EGRESSED WAS THE PILOT, GARY OSTLER ALONG WITH HIS 18 YEAR OLD SON. THIS AIRCRAFT WAS ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN, AND HAD LEFT PORT ANGELES, WA WITH A PLANNED FUEL STOP IN KETCHIKAN. ACCORDING TO SURVIVOR'S STATEMENTS THE AIRCRAFT'S LAST STOP BEFORE THE ACCIDENT WAS PORT ANGELES. BASED ON THIS STATEMENT THE PLANNED FUEL STOP WAS EVIDENTLY BYPASSED. THE SURVIVORS MADE SHORE AFTER APPROX. 1.5 HOURS OF SWIMMING. THE PILOT AND HIS SON WERE LAST SEEN AFLOAT WITH A DUFFLE BAG FOR FLOATATION ASSISTANCE BY THE 2 INTERVIEWED SURVIVORS. COAST GUARD IS CONTINUING THE SEARCH FOR THESE OTHER TWO SURVIVORS. THE AIRCRAFT IS PRESUMED LOST WITH 2 PEOPLE STILL ON BOARD.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC03LA076Accident · 4 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportGustavus, AKThe pilot's inadequate in-flight decision making process, and failure to refuel the airplane prior to fuel exhaustion, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. A factor associated with the accident was the lack of a suitable forced landing site.Jul 14, 2003 · Destroyed