# NTSB ANC02LA095: Piper PA-32-260, N3853W, Red Devil, AK, August 14, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 13, 2002, 16:00 local (Aug 14, 2002, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Red Devil, AK - Coordinates: 61.787776, -157.348052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7878&lon=-157.3481&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report April 29, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55515 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55515/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA095 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during the initial climb after takeoff that resulted in a collision with trees. A contributing factor in the accident was rising terrain which was unsuitable for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot reported that during the initial climb after takeoff, as he was making a crosswind to downwind turn, the engine began to run rough and lose power. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude and collided with trees along a ridgeline, about 1.5 miles from the departure airport. Rising terrain is located on either side of the airport's location in a river valley. Due to the remoteness of the area, a postaccident examination of the engine was not conducted. ## Factual narrative On August 13, 2002, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-32-260 airplane, N3853W, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees along a ridgeline following a partial loss of engine power after takeoff from Red Devil, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country business flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, and the two passengers, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The intended destination was Stony River, Alaska. On August 15, 2002, the pilot notified the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) Northwest Field Office of the accident. The pilot reported that during the initial climb after takeoff, as he was making a crosswind to downwind turn, the engine began to run rough and lose power. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude and collided with trees about 1.5 miles from the airport. The Red Devil Airport is located along the banks of the Kuskokwim River. Rising terrain is located on each side of the river valley. The FAA's Airport/Facility Directory, Alaska Supplement, airport remarks for the Red Devil Airport, states, in part: "Airport remarks, Unattended. Caution: Runway condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to using. One-half inch of loose gravel on runway surface. Grass growing in the west 2,000 feet of runway 09/27." Following the accident, the airplane was recovered to the Red Devil Airport, but no further. Due to the remoteness of the area, a postaccident examination of the engine was not conducted by the owner, insurance company, or the Safety Board. The closest official weather observation station is the Sparrevohn Long Range Radar Station (LRRS), Sparrevohn, Alaska, which is located 66 nautical miles east-southeast of the accident site. At 1555, an automated weather observation system (AWOS) was reporting in part: Wind, 250 degrees (true) at 5 knots; visibility, 10 statue miles; clouds and sky condition, 4,700 feet scattered; temperature, 59 degrees F; dew point, 39 degrees F; altimeter, 30.25 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3853W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3853W-2012-08-14), registration cancelled 2012-08-14, S/N 32-794, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-0794 - Airframe hours: 4529 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Ward H. Sattler - Registered owner: Gary Kessinger - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 18, 2001, 281 hours before - Departed: RDV, RED DEVIL, AK - Destination: SRV, STONY RIVER, AK - Airport: RDV, Red Devil, runway 27, 4,750 × 74 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 28, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 18,000 total, 1,160 in this make and model, 18,000 as pilot in command, 159 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: PASV, 66 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 20020813023179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020813023179A), Aug 13, 2002: Piper PA32260, Reddevil, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 13, 2002, about 1600 hours Alaska time, a Piper, pa 32-260, N3853W, sustained a power loss during departure from the red devil airport resultin… ## Other investigations on N3853W (2) 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 FTW69F0412](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69F0412), Mar 31, 1969: Piper PA-32 (N3853W), Sarepta, LA, substantial damage - [NTSB MIA68D0024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA68D0024), Jun 11, 1967: Piper PA-32 (N3853W), Miami, FL, substantial damage 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.