# NTSB ANC13LA048: Piper PA-16, N5372H, Juneau, AK, May 19, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 19, 2013, 06:35 local (14:35 UTC) - Place: Juneau, AK - Coordinates: 58.409721, -134.852493 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.4097&lon=-134.8525&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86966 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC13LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86966/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86966 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13LA048 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to the inability to recover the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-16, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7101602), [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. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-16, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101602), [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-16, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the start, taxi, and before-takeoff checks were all normal. However, just after takeoff, as the airplane climbed through about 350 feet above ground level, the engine suddenly lost all power. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot turned back toward the beach and ditched the airplane in the ocean. The airplane sank in about 400 feet of water and was not recovered; therefore, it was presumed to be substantially damaged. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 2013, about 0635 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-16 airplane, N5372H, is presumed to have sustained substantial damage during a forced landing and ditching, following a loss of engine power after takeoff near Juneau, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed a beach on Shelter Island at approximately 0635, destined for Juneau, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on May 21, the pilot stated he had flown out the previous evening to stay with friends who were camping on Shelter Island. The following morning he performed a preflight inspection on the airplane, and departed the beach for Juneau. Just after takeoff, as the airplane climbed through approximately 350 feet above ground level, the engine suddenly lost all power. Unable to restart the engine, he turned back toward the beach and ditched the airplane in the ocean. Upon landing, the airplane skipped twice, and skied across the surface of the water for approximately 100 feet. It then nosed over abruptly, and the cabin began to fill rapidly with water. The pilot and passenger evacuated the airplane through the right-hand side door, and sat on top of the inverted airplane until the wreckage began to sink. The two occupants had begun to swim for shore when they were picked up by a boat. Shelter Island is approximately 10 miles northwest of Juneau and trends northwest between Saginaw and Favorite Channels in the inside passage of the north Pacific Ocean. The area is influence by strong tides and ocean currents. The airplane sank in about 400 feet of ocean water, was not recovered, and was therefore presumed substantially damaged. The pilot stated that the airplane’s maintenance logbooks were on board the airplane and subsequently sank with the wreckage; therefore, they could not be reviewed. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming O-235 engine. The closest weather reporting facility is Juneau Airport, approximately 10 miles east of the accident site. At 0653, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) at Juneau, Alaska, reported wind from 060 degrees, at 6 knots, visibility, 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 4800 feet, broken clouds at 7500 feet, broken clouds at 9000 feet, temperature, 38 degrees F; dew point 35 degrees F; altimeter, 30.35 inHG. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5372H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5372H-2015-05-15), registration cancelled 2015-05-15, S/N 16-179, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-16 - Registry model: [Piper PA-16](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-16) (registry code 7101602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 16-179 - Airframe hours: 4000 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Holmes Robert A - Registered owner: Holmes Robert A - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Juneau, AK - Destination: Juneau, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 750 total, 700 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: PAJN, 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 20130519009859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130519009859A), May 19, 2013: Piper PA-16, Juneau, AK, Destroyed. Aircraft lost power for unknown reason on climb out Aircraft sank to the bottom of ocean and is unrecoverable ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86966. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397476&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.