# NTSB ANC10CA079: Piper PA-14, N5114H, Talkeetna, AK, August 26, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 25, 2010, 20:00 local (Aug 26, 2010, 04:00 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.49361, -150.289993 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4936&lon=-150.2900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 77148 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10CA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77148/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77148 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA079 ## Probable cause A faulty fuel quantity indication in-flight, which precipitated a precautionary off-airport landing, and collision with a road sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel quantity indicator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841/cases.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was on a personal cross country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot said he had fueled the airplane prior to take off, but the indications of the electric fuel gauges made him believe the airplane was losing fuel. He thought the airplane would not make it to the nearest airport, and he elected to make a precautionary landing on a state highway, which was the only suitable landing site in the remote area. He said both fuel gauges were reading empty, and traffic on the road made him land farther down the road than anticipated. During the landing roll, the left wing struck a road sign. He said the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, elevator, and right wing. ## Factual narrative The private pilot was on a personal cross country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot said he had fueled the airplane prior to take off, but the indications of the electric fuel gauges made him believe the airplane was losing fuel. He thought the airplane would not make it to the nearest airport, and he elected to make a precautionary landing on a state highway, which was the only suitable landing site in the remote area. He said both fuel gauges were reading empty, and traffic on the road made him land farther down the road than anticipated. During the landing roll, the left wing struck a road sign. He said the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, elevator, and right wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5114H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5114H), registered now, S/N 14-120, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-14 - Registry model: [Piper PA-14](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-14) (registry code 7101402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14-120 - Airframe hours: 4900 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wasche Kenneth M - Registered owner: Wasche Kenneth M - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2010 - Departed: PATW, Cantwell, AK - Destination: PAMR, Anchorage, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 19, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 410 total, 340 in this make and model, 410 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg ## 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 20100825044039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100825044039A), Aug 25, 2010: Piper PA-14, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot states that he was making a precautionary landing due to indicated low fuel levels, despite having just fueled the aircraft. On landing he struck a sign… ## Other investigations on N5114H (1) 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 ANC06CA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06CA117), Aug 8, 2006: Piper PA-14 (N5114H), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to compensate for wind conditions during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent collision with a ditch. Factors contributing to the accident were a… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77148. 748 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 748 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338414&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.