# NTSB ANC94LA030: Piper PA-28, N9193W, Anchorage, AK, January 22, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 22, 1994, 13:33 local (17:33 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.219787, -149.849227 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2198&lon=-149.8492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2483 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2483/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA030 ## Probable cause FUEL STARVATION FROM WATER AND/OR ICE CRYSTALS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER PREFLIGHT OF THE FUEL SUMPS BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. ## 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 - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank ## Analysis THE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY DESCENT AND LANDING AT THE AIRPORT HE HAD JUST DEPARTED FROM. THE PILOT DID NOT USE A CONTAINER TO RECOVER THE FUEL FROM THE 'LOW POINT' FUEL SUMP ON THE BELLY OF THE PLANE DURING HIS PREFLIGHT ACTIVITIES. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE FUEL ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE OR WITH THE ENGINE DURING A POST ACCIDENT RUNUP. WHILE REMOVING THE LEFT WING'S FUEL TANK TO REPAIR THE WING, ICE CRYSTALS WERE FOUND IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. ## Factual narrative On January 22, 1994, at 1333 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-28 airplane, N9193W, owned and operated by the pilot-in-command, collided with the terrain during a forced landing on runway 06 at the Merrill Field Airport in Anchorage, Alaska, following a loss of engine power. The private certificated pilot and one passenger were not injured and two passengers received minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pleasure flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Merrill Field at about 1332 and the intended destination was Kenai, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and there was no flight plan in effect. Shortly after the accident, the pilot was interviewed at the scene by the NTSB investigator-in-charge. The pilot reported that at about 400 feet above the ground, following a takeoff from runway 24 at Merrill Field, the engine quit. He made a left turn back to Merrill Field with the intention of landing on runway 06. The plane landed hard on runway 06 with the nose of the airplane canted to the left of the runway centerline. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway into a snow bank. The plane sustained substantial damage to its left wing. The pilot said that he performed a preflight check on the airplane and found the wing and engine fuel sumps to be clear and free of contaminates. However, he did not use a container to recover the ported fuel from the "low point" sump on the belly of the plane. His pretakeoff check found the engine to be in proper working order. Investigators examined the residual fuel in the plane's carburetor fuel bowl at the scene and found it to be free of contaminants. No problems were noted with the engine during a runup on January 31, 1994. The pilot reported that in the process of removing the left wing fuel tank to effect repair of the damaged wing area, he found ice crystals in the bottom of the tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9193W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9193W), registered now, S/N 28-10851, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2810551 - Airframe hours: 2407 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larry Driskill - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1993, 66 hours before - Destination: ENA, KENAI, AK - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 6, 3,999 × 100 ft, snow ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 798 total, 300 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 3 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MRI ## 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 19940122000809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940122000809A), Jan 22, 1994: Piper PA28235, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Engine quit on climbout. Returned hard angled landing. Veered into snowbank. Found ice crystals in fuel tanks. 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.