# NTSB ANC02LA030: Aeronca 15AC, N1272H, Sitka, AK, April 14, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 14, 2002, 06:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Sitka, AK - Coordinates: 57.233333, -135.350006 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.2333&lon=-135.3500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 16, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-JNU FSDO 05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 54509 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54509/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54509 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA030 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power during cruise flight for an undertermined reason. A factor in the accident was rough/uneven beach terrain at the site of the forced landing. ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot departed on a cross-country personal flight, and was in cruise flight about 4,000 feet msl. The engine suddenly began to lose power, and then quit. The pilot declared an emergency, and made a forced landing on a beach. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a small rise along the beach, and then nosed over. The airplane received damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the engine failed to disclose any mechanical malfunction. ## Factual narrative On April 14, 2002, about 0640 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Aeronca 15AC airplane, N1272H, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing on a remote beach, about 10 miles north-northwest of Sitka, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Sitka Rocky Gutierrez airport, about 0622. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 14, the pilot reported he departed for Gustavus, Alaska, and was in cruise flight about 4,000 feet msl. The engine suddenly began to lose power, and then quit. He declared an emergency, and made a landing on a beach along the Nakwasina Passage. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a small rise and nosed over. The airplane received damage to the wings and fuselage. The closest official weather observation station is Sitka, Alaska. At 0640, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: Wind, calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, clear; temperature, 36 degrees F; dew point, 33 degrees F; altimeter, 29.42 inHg. On June 24, 2002, an FAA airworthiness inspector from the Juneau Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) examined the airplane in Sitka, after it was recovered from the accident scene. The inspector reported that the engine carburetor controls (throttle, mixture, and carburetor heat) were attached and operated properly. The carburetor contained fuel without any presence of water. The engine was subsequently started and it produced power. Both engine magnetos operated properly. The engine produced oil pressure and normal oil temperature. The carburetor heat control operated properly. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - sand bar - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1272H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1272H-2017-06-21), registration cancelled 2017-06-21, S/N 15AC-286, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 15AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 15AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-15ac) (registry code 0191202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15AC-286 - Airframe hours: 1142 - Engines: Continental C-145 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James L. Marrs - Registered owner: Carl M. Gonder Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 2001 - Departed: PASI, SITKA, AK - Destination: PAGS, GUSTAVUS, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 420 total, 120 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.42 inHg - Observed at: PASI, 10 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020414009579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020414009579A), Apr 14, 2002: Aronca 15AC, Sitka, AK, No damage. (-23) Departed sit @ 1422Z and climbed to 4,000 at 1440Z, experiences engine power loss. Could not restart engine. Looked for beach area to land in nakwasina… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54509. 638 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 638 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427470&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- 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.