# NTSB ANC07LA086: Aeronca AR-15, N1407H, Clear, AK, August 17, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 2007, 09:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Clear, AK - Coordinates: 64.300003, -149.116668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.3000&lon=-149.1167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA, Fairbanks Flt. Standards District office - NTSB case key (mKey): 66516 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66516/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA086 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during cruise flight for an undetermined reason. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation - terrain condition - swampy ## Analysis The solo private pilot stated that the engine lost power while in cruise on a cross country personal flight. During the off-airport forced landing, the airplane collided with brush and nosed over in swampy terrain. The pilot said there was ample fuel in the tanks, and that the weather was clear with calm wind. A partial examination of the engine disclosed no definitive information why the engine lost power. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 2007, about 0915 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Aeronca AR-15 airplane, N1407H, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and forced landing in swampy terrain, about 2 miles east of Clear, Alaska. The solo private pilot was not injured. The flight departed the Chena Marina airport, Fairbanks, Alaska, about 0650, and was en route to Healy, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed for the cross country, Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on August 18, the pilot related that he was cruising at 4,300 feet msl, when the engine power decreased, and he was unable to maintain altitude. He said he was unable to restore engine power, and landed in a swampy area. The airplane nosed over during the landing roll, and sustained substantial damage to the wings and tail section. The pilot stated that he did not know why the engine lost power, that he had ample fuel, and that he had checked the fuel tanks for contamination prior to leaving Fairbanks. A partial examination of the engine several weeks after the accident by an FAA inspector disclosed that there was rust and particulate matter in the gascolator, but no obvious signs of a catastrophic failure of the engine or its accessories. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1407H (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Aeronca AR-15 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 458 - Airframe hours: 4400 - Engines: Continental O-300A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fredrick Wallis - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2007, 24 hours before - Departed: AK28, Fairbanks, AK - Destination: HRR, Healy, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 459 total, 96 in this make and model, 349 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 20070817017089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070817017089A), Aug 17, 2007: Aronca 15AC, Clear, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] enroute from chena marina (AK28) to healy (hrr) in cruise configuration at 4000FT MSL engine RPM abruptly reduced to 1500.… 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.