ANC00LA064

The pilot said that immediately after takeoff, about 200 feet above the ground, the engine lost total power. He said he prepared to land on the highway, but the presence of an automobile made him land off the side of the road. The airplane went into a ditch, the right landing gear separated from the airplane, and the empennage and left horizontal stabilizer were damaged. Postaccident inspection by an Alaska State Trooper revealed fuel in both wing tanks. No anomalies were noted with the engine during a subsequent inspection by an FAA airworthiness inspector, and an independent mechanic. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot did not remember which fuel tank was selected during takeoff, but believed it was the right tank. There is a placard in the airplane which states 'Right tank only in level flight when less than 1/3 full.' During a telephone interview with the NTSB IIC, and in his NTSB Pilot/Operator report, the pilot stated he was positive that he took off with the fuel selector valve in the left tank position.

On June 5, 2000, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, N1724P, a Piper PA-22 airplane which had been converted to a tailwheel configuration, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing at mile 119 of the Richardson Highway near Gulkana, Alaska, at 62 degrees, 19 minutes north latitude, 145 degrees, 21 minutes west longtitude. The solo private pilot received minor injuries. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), during a telephone interview on June 5, that he took off from a landing strip in Gakona to return to his home about 45 miles north. He stated that immediately after takeoff, about 200 feet above the ground, the engine lost total power. He said he prepared to land on the highway, but the presence of an automobile made him land off the side of the road. The airplane went into a ditch, the right landing gear separated from the airplane, and the empennage and left horizontal stabilizer were damaged. The pilot told the NTSB IIC that he had flown from his home, to the Wrangell Mountains, to Gulkana. He stated he had not refueled the airplane since his original departure from his home the day prior to the accident.

Postaccident inspection by an Alaska State Trooper about three hours after the accident revealed the fuel selector valve was on, the left side fuel tank was about 3/4 full, the right side fuel tank was nearly empty, and the throttle control cable was connected. After the airplane was placed in a level attitude, fuel was drained from both wing tank sump drains. No anomalies were noted with the engine during a subsequent inspection by an FAA airworthiness inspector, and an independent mechanic.

The pilot was interviewed by an FAA airworthiness inspector on June 9. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot did not remember which fuel tank was selected during takeoff, but believed it was the right tank. There is a placard in the airplane which states "Right tank only in level flight when less than 1/3 full." This placard is required in the Type Certificate Data Sheet. During a telephone interview with the NTSB IIC on June 13, and in his NTSB Pilot/Operator report, the pilot stated he was positive that he took off with the fuel selector valve in the left tank position.