20150920022669A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Champion 7ECA · Talkeetna, AK · September 20, 2015

Date: September 20, 2015 · 20:15 local
Place: Talkeetna, AK
Airport: Talkeetna
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N9132L
NTSB investigation: NTSBGAA15LA284
Reported as: Champion 7ECA
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-235 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 18,500 total27 in this make and model199 in the last 90 days

N9132LRegistration cancelled Apr 4, 2018 · Champion 7ECAS/N 801-71 · Built 1970 Airframe modelChampion 7ECA Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

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.

Mishap pilot (mp) was doing local touch and goes at Talkeetna Airport (tka).

According to witnesses mp had just done a touch and go when engine went silent. Pilot initiated a left turn in an apparent attempt to return to the runway. Aircraft impacted 1000' north and approximately 200' west of centerline of departure end of runway 36. Aircraft came to rest nose down at a 70 degree angle, in grove of small willow trees. Pilot was med-evac'd and unavailable for interview. Pilot, through lawyer, replied to written questions. In part stated "...could not see left wing fuel guage as covered by headliner, right fuel gauge indicated 1/4 full....6 gallons estimated fuel left."

As the FAA filed it

MISHAP PILOT (MP) WAS DOING LOCAL TOUCH AND GOES AT TALKEETNA AIRPORT (TKA).

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES MP HAD JUST DONE A TOUCH AND GO WHEN ENGINE WENT SILENT. PILOT INITIATED A LEFT TURN IN AN APPARENT ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED 1000' NORTH AND APPROXIMATELY 200' WEST OF CENTERLINE OF DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 36. AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST NOSE DOWN AT A 70 DEGREE ANGLE, IN GROVE OF SMALL WILLOW TREES. PILOT WAS MED-EVAC'D AND UNAVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW. PILOT, THROUGH LAWYER, REPLIED TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS. IN PART STATED "...COULD NOT SEE LEFT WING FUEL GUAGE AS COVERED BY HEADLINER, RIGHT FUEL GAUGE INDICATED 1/4 FULL....6 GALLONS ESTIMATED FUEL LEFT."

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 GAA15LA284Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportTalkeetna, AKThe pilot's failure to properly calculate the fuel consumption rate and to properly monitor the fuel status in flight and his decision to continue the flight despite signs of an engine problem, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel…Sep 21, 2015 · Substantial damage