# NTSB ANC83LA181: Piper PA-12, N4008M, Wasilla, AK, September 23, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 23, 1983, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4176
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83LA181
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4176/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83LA181

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system - water (cause)
  - fuel system,cap - leak (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING INTEMITTENTLY AFTER HE WAS OVER TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.  THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE PILOT SET UP FOR AND ACCOMPLISHED A FORCED LANDING. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT AND A MECHANIC FOUND WATER IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE GAS CAPS WERE ALMOST FLUSH WITH THE WING AND ALLOWED WATER TO COLLECTAT THE SAME LEVEL AS THE FILLER NECK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4008M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4008M), registered now, S/N 12-2885, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Airframe hours: 2000
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Registered owner: Stuart Felbert
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 1983, 80 hours before
- Airport: Z16, Wasilla, runway 18, 1,000 ×  ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 7,350 total, 5,050 in this make and model, 7,100 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- 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 19830923067939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830923067939A), Sep 23, 1983: Piper PA12, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Engine quit on climb after takeoff and crash occurred during emergency landing.

## Other investigations on N4008M (1)

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 ANC74DAG19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC74DAG19), Aug 12, 1973: Piper PA-12 (N4008M), Port Lions, AK, substantial damage

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.