# NTSB ANC23LA060: Piper PA-12S, N2262G, Igiugig, AK, August 5, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 4, 2023, 18:43 local (Aug 5, 2023, 02:43 UTC)
- Place: Igiugig, AK
- Coordinates: 59.46, -155.94
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.4600&lon=-155.9400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192820
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192820/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192820
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA060

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## Findings

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

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7101204), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7101204), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7101204), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported he was about 8 miles from his destination when the engine began to run rough and the power began to surge. He confirmed the fuel selector was set to both tanks, adjusted throttle and mixture, checked the magnetos and primer, and he pulled the carburetor heat on. As he turned to line up for an off-airport landing, the engine regained full power but then resumed a steady power loss until it lost all power. The landing gear contacted a deep hole in the tundra during the landing and the airplane veered right 90° before coming to a complete stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed both the left and right fuel tank contained no usable fuel. After adding fuel to the fuel tank, the engine performed normally with no abnormalities observed.

## Factual narrative

On August 04, 2023, about 1843 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-12S airplane, N2262G, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Igiugig, Alaska. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported he departed with 3 hours and 40 minutes of fuel on board for the 2 hour and 44-minute flight. He reported that when he was 8 miles from his destination, the airplane engine began to run rough, and the power was surging. He performed the engine rough running procedures, including confirming that the fuel selector was set to both tanks, he adjusted the throttle and mixture, checked the magnetos, verified that the primer was in and locked, and he pulled the carburetor heat on. The pilot turned right to a landing spot and the engine regained full power but then resumed a steady power loss until it lost all power. During the forced landing, the airplane encountered a deep hole in the tundra and the airplane veered right 90° before coming to a complete stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed both the left and right fuel tanks contained no usable fuel. After adding fuel to the left wing fuel tank the engine started normally. The engine idled smoothly at 600 rpm. After the engine was warmed up, it accelerated normally to a static rpm of 2250 rpm. The engine had good oil pressure. Carburetor heat functioned normally when tested. The engine performed normally with no abnormalities observed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2262G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2262G), registered now, S/N 12-1183, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12S
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12S](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12s) (registry code 7101204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-A2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-a2b) (registry code 42101, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-1183
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 5512
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 2023, 44.7 hours before
- Departed: PALH, Anchorage, AK
- Destination: PAIG, Igiugig, AK
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, ADS-B, Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 3, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10,095 total, 225 in this make and model, 7,470 as pilot in command, 128 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Turbulence: Light
- Observed at: PAIG, 1 nm away
- METAR: PAIG 050256Z AUTO 05006KT 10SM BKN050 16/12 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP198 6//// T01560122 56011 PNO $

## 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 20230804017549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230804017549A), Aug 4, 2023: Piper PA-12S, Igiugig, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot departed lake hood airport, AK for planned 231 NM flight to Igiugig airport, AK in PA-12S aircraft resulted in forced landing on tundra, 8 NM short of…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 16, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192820. 6.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16239195&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA060%206120%20signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16239584&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA060%20pilot%20interview-Rel.pdf
- Engine examination (item 3, PDF, 7 pages, 759 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16239302&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA060%20Engine%20examination-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16239574&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA060%20Investigative%20photographs-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.

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