# NTSB ANC17LA017: Beech G18, N103AF, Metlakatla, AK, March 3, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 3, 2017, 08:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Metlakatla, AK
- Coordinates: 55.091667, -131.601669 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.0917&lon=-131.6017&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-IFR missed approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 8, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA Jueau FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94807
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC17LA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94807/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94807
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA017

## Probable cause

An engine power loss for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane was not recovered.

## 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: [Beech G18S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1151010), [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.

- [Approach-IFR missed approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech G18S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1151010), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Beech G18S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=1151010), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Beech G18S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=1151010), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the twin-engine airplane and the pilot-rated passenger reported that, during a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions, at 2,000 ft mean sea level, the right engine seized. The pilot attempted to feather the right engine by pulling the propeller control to the feather position; however, the engine did not feather. The airplane would not maintain level flight, so the pilot navigated to a known airport, and the passenger made emergency communications with air traffic control. The pilot was unable to maintain visual reference with the ground until the airplane descended through about 100 to 200 ft and the visibility was 1 statute mile. The pilot stated that he was forced to ditch the airplane in the water about 5 miles short of the airport. The pilot and passenger egressed the airplane and swam ashore before it sank in about 89 ft of water. Both the pilot and passenger reported that there was postimpact fire on the surface of the water. The airplane was not recovered, which precluded a postaccident examination. Thus, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

***This report was modified on 6/2/2020. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.*** The pilot of the twin engine airplane and the pilot rated passenger reported that during a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions, at 2,000 ft mean sea level, the right engine seized. The pilot attempted to feather the right engine by pulling the propeller control to the feather position; however, the engine did not feather. The airplane would not maintain level flight, so the pilot navigated over the water toward a known airport in front of the airplane and the passenger made emergency communications with air traffic control. The pilot was unable to maintain visual reference with the ground until the airplane descended through about 100 to 200 ft and the visibility was 1 statute mile. The pilot stated that he was forced to ditch the airplane in the water about 5 miles short of the airport and that the nose of the airplane separated from the fuselage during impact. The pilot and the passenger egressed the airplane and swam ashore before it sank in about 89 ft of water. Both the pilot and passenger reported that there was post impact fire on the surface of the water. The airplane was not recovered which precluded a postaccident examination.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N103AF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N103AF-2019-03-14), registration cancelled 2019-03-14, S/N BA-526, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH G18 (S)
- Registry model: [Beech G18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-g18s) (registry code 1151010) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BA-526
- Year built: 1961
- Airframe hours: 17646.7
- Engines: Pratt and Whitney R-985-AN-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating; Pratt and Whitney R-985-AN-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2016
- Departed: AKW, KLAWOCK, AK
- Destination: KTN, KETCHIKAN, AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 2, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 10,308 total, 330 in this make and model, 10,102 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot-rated passenger; age 23; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: right; restraint: lap only
- Pilot-rated passenger; age 23; injuries: minor; flight instructor, remote, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 14 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.45 inHg
- Observed at: PANT, 3 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 20170303017839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170303017839A), Mar 3, 2017: Beech G18S, Metlakatla, AK, Destroyed. A Beech 18-aircraft, on wheels with two pilots, N103AF (s.n# BA-526) operated by point to point air LLC, a part 91 operator based in arlington Washington,…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 21, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94807. 5.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482716&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Pilot Statement (Hewitt) (item 2, .PDF, 876 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482717&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20(Hewitt)-Master.PDF
- Passenger Statement (Hasting) (item 3, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482718&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement%20(Hasting)-Master.PDF
- Photograph and Wreckage Location (item 4, .PDF, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482719&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20and%20Wreckage%20Location-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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