- Date
- June 29, 1985, 21:15 local (Jun 30, 1985, 05:15 UTC)
- Place
- Chugiak, AK
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N3081MPiper PA-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19850629028459A
- Case key
- 4416
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The acft crashed in a wooded residential area following a loss of pwr on takeoff. Post accident inspection of the airframe and powerplant disclosed automotive fuel was being used in the acft. Lab tests indicated the fuel was subjectedto high temps which evaporated aprx 50% of the fuel leaving only additives. Inspection of the carburetor revealed it was equipped with a molded cellular fibre float. Tests on the float showed it was able to and apparently absorbed fuel and as a result it sank.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3081M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-12
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12-1769
- Airframe hours
- 1,544
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Donald E. Sheik
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 6, 1984 · 73 hours before
- Departed
- Chugiak, AK
- Airport
- Hilltop, runway 3, 1,300 × 50 ft, gravel
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 677 total · 329 in this make and model · 629 as pilot in command · 46 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3081M · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.