# NTSB ANC84LA010: Piper PA-20, N97MM, Anchorage, AK, October 24, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 24, 1983, 12:26 local (20:26 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.159442, -149.990249 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1594&lon=-149.9902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4252
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC84LA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4252/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84LA010

## 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
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE ENG QUIT DURING TAKEOFF. THE PLT STATED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS INITIALLY ON THE LEFT TANK WHICH WAS FOUND EMPTY. THE RIGHT TANK WAS 1/8/ FULL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N97MM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97MM-2005-11-14), registration cancelled 2005-11-14, S/N 20-41 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-20
- Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20-41
- Airframe hours: 2200
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charles C. Gold, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1983, 4 hours before
- Airport: MRI, Merril Field, runway 15, 2,469 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 454 total, 269 in this make and model, 259 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ANC, 1 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 19831024055419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831024055419A), Oct 24, 1983: Piper PA20, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Engine quit on takeoff climb. Crash landed off end of runway. Fuel selector on empty tank. Other tank had fuel.

## Other investigations on N97MM (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 ANC86LA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86LA012), Dec 6, 1985: Piper PA-20 (N97MM), Shageluk, 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.

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