# NTSB ANC10LA084: Piper PA-20, N7414K, South Naknek, AK, September 11, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 10, 2010, 18:00 local (Sep 11, 2010, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: South Naknek, AK
- Coordinates: 58.70222, -157.002777
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.7022&lon=-157.0028&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 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): 77261
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10LA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77261/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77261
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA084

## Probable cause

The loss of engine power during cruise flight for an undetermined reason, resulting in an emergency landing and collision with terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo non-certificated pilot was on a personal local flight operating under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The pilot said he was on a 5 minute flight from one airport to another. He said as he approached his destination airport, the airplane's engine started to lose power so he applied carburetor heat, which had no effect, and he turned the heat off. He said there were airplanes in the airport's pattern, and he extended his approach to the pattern. The pilot said he again applied carburetor heat with no effect. The engine continued to lose power and he decided to land on a roadway. The pilot said the airplane landed hard, exited the roadway, and collided with trees. He said the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Due to its remote location, the airplane was not examined by the NTSB.

## Factual narrative

On September 10, 2010, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel equipped Piper PA-20 airplane, N7414K, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing and collision with trees, about one-quarter mile northeast of the South Naknek Airport, South Naknek, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo non-certificated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed the Naknek Airport, Naknek, Alaska, about 1755. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 10, the pilot said he was on a short, 5 minute flight from Naknek to South Naknek. He said as he approached his destination airport, the airplane's engine started to lose power. He said he applied carburetor heat, but it had no effect, and he turned the heat off. He said there were airplanes in the destination airport's pattern, and he extended his approach to the pattern. The pilot said he again applied carburetor heat with no effect. The engine continued to lose power, and he said he decided to land on a roadway. The pilot said the airplane landed hard, exited the roadway, and collided with trees, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Due to its remote location, the airplane was not examined by the NTSB.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7414K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7414K-2017-06-07), registration cancelled 2017-06-07, S/N 20-324, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-20
- Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20-324
- Airframe hours: 1024
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290 SERIES 140 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Zimin Ralph E
- Registered owner: Zimin Ralph E
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 6, 2010
- Departed: 5NK, Naknek, AK
- Destination: South Naknek, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 59; injuries: none; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °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 20100910049399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100910049399A), Sep 10, 2010: Piper PA-20, Naknek, AK, Substantial damage. Departed from Naknek (AK) north strip intending to land at Naknek (AK) south strip. In less than 15 minutes flight, on final approach to Naknek south strip,…

## Other investigations on N7414K (3)

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 DEN71FXT10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN71FXT10), Sep 15, 1970: Piper PA-20 (N7414K), Evanston, WY, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX66D0253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX66D0253), Jan 17, 1966: Piper PA-20 (N7414K), Montello, NV, substantial damage
- [NTSB UNK64X4137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X4137), Sep 25, 1964: Piper PA20 (N7414K), Woods Cross, UT, substantial damage

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77261. 566 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 566 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.

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