# NTSB ANC91LA156: Aeronca Sedan 15AC, N1416H, Anchorage, AK, October 1, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 30, 1991, 17:30 local (Oct 1, 1991, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.079429, -149.699447 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.0794&lon=-149.6994&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5629
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC91LA156
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5629/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA156

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ENSURE THAT THE FUEL CAPS WERE SECURE, WHICH RESTULED IN A FUEL LEAK AND SUBSEQUENT FUEL EXHAUSTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system,cap - not secured (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - leak (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing
  - terrain condition - soft
  - terrain condition - wet

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED HE SAW FUEL STREAMING FROM THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE WINGS.  THE ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER, AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP IT RUNNING THROUGH THE USE OF THE FUEL PRIMER.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE NOSED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING ON MUD FLATS AND WAS DAMAGED.  THE AIRPLANE'S ORIGINAL 145 HP ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH A 200 HP ENGINE.  THE ORIGINAL FUEL CAPS WITH INTEGRAL FUEL SYSTEM VENTS WERE STILL INSTALLED.  THE WINGS OF THE AIRPLANE WERE NOT RECOVERED AND DISAPPEARED WITH THE TIDE; AS A RESULT, THE FUEL QUANTITY COULD NOT BE CHECKED.  EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1416H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1416H-1996-03-02), registration cancelled 1996-03-02, S/N 15AC480 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA SEDAN 15AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 15AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-15ac) (registry code 0191202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15AC-480
- Airframe hours: 3840
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Darin Applebury
- Registered owner: Jay Applebury
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 25, 1991
- Departed: MONTAGUE ISLAND, AK
- Destination: LHD, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 530 total, 250 in this make and model, 470 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 150° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- 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 19910930044109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910930044109A), Sep 30, 1991: Aronca 15AC, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. En route noticed fuel streaming off wings. Engine quit. Nosed over in tidal flats. Tide got wings. Possible siphon

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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