# NTSB ANC93LA150: Aeronca 11AC, N86361, Galena, AK, August 16, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 1993, 11:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Galena, AK - Coordinates: 64.740356, -156.849975 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7404&lon=-156.8500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2407 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2407/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA150 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE CRUISING AT 850 FEET AGL, THE SOUND FROM THE ENGINE CHANGED PITCH AND HE OBSERVED AN APPROXIMATE 100 RPM DECREASE. BELIEVING THE ENGINE THROTTLE HAD CREPT BACK, HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING AND SEIZED. THE SUBSEQUENT OFF AIRPORT FORCED LANDING RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE NOSING OVER AND BEING SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE REASON FOR THE POWER LOSS WAS NOT DETERMINED. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 1993, at 1145 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Aeronca Chief 11AC aircraft, N86361, experienced a loss of engine power while at cruise flight resulting in a forced landing and nose over on muskeg tundra near Kalakette Creek, approximately eight miles west of Galena, Alaska. The pilot in command, who was also the registered owner/operator of the airplane, and his passenger were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pleasure flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Galena at approximately 1135 and the intended destination was Kalakette Creek. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no VFR flight plan had been filed. During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator in charge on August 16, 1993, the pilot stated that he performed a thorough preflight (including a check of the engine oil quantity and fuel sumps) and engine run up and found the airplane to be in good operating condition. The fuel on board the airplane consisted of two gallons in the rear tank and 10 gallons in the front (main) tank. The takeoff and flight was conducted with the fuel selector on the main tank. While cruising at 850 feet above the ground at an engine rpm setting of 2200, the sound from the engine changed pitch and he observed on the rpm gage a bleed off of approximately 100 rpm. Believing the engine throttle had crept back, he advanced the throttle and the engine stopped suddenly as if it had locked up. There were no metallic sounds associated with the engine stoppage. Post accident attempts by the pilot and passenger to rotate the engine by hand using the propeller were not successful. The pilot reported that he had flown the airplane about 65 hours since acquiring it and had not experienced any problems with the engine. The airplane received an annual inspection in October 1992, and the engine had accumulated approximately 220 hours since undergoing a major overhaul. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N86361](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N86361), registered now, S/N 11AC174, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 11AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 11AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11ac) (registry code 0191102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11AC174 - Airframe hours: 2890 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Patrick, Daniel O. - Registered owner: Patrick, Daniel O. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 21, 1992, 44 hours before - Destination: KALAKETTE CREEK, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 138 total, 51 in this make and model, 76 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 14 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °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 19930816030789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930816030789A), Aug 16, 1993: Bbavia 11AC, Galena, AK, Substantial damage. Reported engine quit en route. Nosed over landing on tundra. No engine defects found. 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.