# NTSB ANC21LA070: Alaskan Air Adventures SQ2, N148CM, Talkeetna, AK, August 5, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 5, 2021, 12:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.318002, -150.11321 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3180&lon=-150.1132&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103709 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103709/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103709 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA070 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadvertent movement of the fuel selector valve to a position between the tanks, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Alaskan Air Adventures SQ2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05630L8), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: unnecessary action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Alaskan Air Adventures SQ2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045/cases.md?model=05630L8), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Alaskan Air Adventures SQ2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=05630L8), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Alaskan Air Adventures SQ2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05630L8), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Alaskan Air Adventures SQ2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05630L8), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot performed a preflight inspection with no anomalies noted. Then, after takeoff, about 50 ft above ground level, the engine lost total power. The pilot elected to land the airplane straight ahead on the runway, however, there was not enough runway remaining to stop the airplane, so he maneuvered the airplane into vegetation on the side of the runway to avoid a runway overrun. After the airplane came to rest, the pilot noted that the fuel selector was in between the right and left fuel tank positions, which likely got “bumped prior to takeoff.” During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wings and right elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N148CM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N148CM), registered now, S/N TCQ1003064, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ALASKAN AIR ADVENTURES LLC SQ2 - Registry model: [Alaskan Air Adventures SQ2](https://openairdocs.org/model/alaskan-air-adventures-sq2) (registry code 05630L8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Aerosport IO-375 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/aerosport-io-375-series) (registry code 01305, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TCQ1003064 - Year built: 2011 - Engines: AEROSPORT O-375-L4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 2021 - Destination: IYS, Wasilla, AK - Airport: AK44, Talkeetna Village Strip, runway 34, 1,600 × 30 ft, gravel - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 12, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,700 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: PATK, 1 nm away - METAR: PATK 051853Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 17/12 A2981 RMK AO2 SLP097 T01720122 ## 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 20210805013399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210805013399A), Aug 5, 2021: Alaskan Air Adventures LLC SQ2, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that the aircraft reached approximately 50 feet of altitude on take off and the engine quit. Pilot immediately returned the aircraft to the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103709. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12766387&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC21LA070%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12766226&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ANC21LA070-Rel.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.