- Date
- July 16, 1991, 22:00 local (Jul 17, 1991, 06:00 UTC)
- Place
- Chataniak Vly, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N84903Aeronca 7AC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19910716027649A
- Case key
- 5582
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
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 pilot-in-command stated he experienced an engine problem during his takeoff and subsequently was forced to land off the lake. Examination of the airplane, and subsequent engine test run, showed no reason for a mechanical failure of the engine. However, the fuel selector valve was mislabeled. The center position of the fuel selector valve was labeled 'main,' but was actually an 'off' position. It was undeterminable what position the fuel selector valve was in during the takeoff and crash sequence. Automotive fuel was being used without a supplemental type certificate.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N84903
- Reported as
- Aeronca 7AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4702468
- Airframe hours
- 4,601
- Engine
- Continental C-90-12F, 95 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Kent Sherman
- Registered owner
- Kent Sherman
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 2, 2000 · 110 hours before
- Destination
- Bradley Sky, AK
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
- 32
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 204 total · 79 in this make and model · 166 as pilot in command · 34 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
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 N84903 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.