ANC94LA065

NTSB accident investigation · Taylorcraft F-19 · Wassila-Cheri, AK · June 6, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 5, 1994, 18:00 local (Jun 6, 1994, 02:00 UTC)
Place
Wassila-Cheri, AK
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N96330Taylorcraft F-19
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 26, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Alaska Regional Office
FAA report
19940605032279A
Case key
2509

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

Carburetor ice collecting in the carburetor throat and the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat during the extended water taxi.

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.

Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanicalTakeoff - initial climb
Weather condition - carburetor icing conditionsFactor
Fuel system,carburetor - ice
Carburetor heat - not usedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with objectDescent - emergency
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

After an extended water taxi, the pilot flew the airplane off the lake. The plane's engine began losing power power at an altitude of 200 feet above the ground. The pilot applied carburetor heat and began a turn to reverse direction and land on the lake from which he had just departed. During the turn the engine began to develop full power, but the airplane had descended too low and struck some trees before reaching the lake.

Factual narrative

On June 5, 1994, at 1800 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Taylorcraft, F-19 airplane, N96330, experienced a power loss on takeoff from Cheri Lake. During the turn to reverse direction the engine regained power, but the airplane had descended too low and it struck some trees prior to reaching the lake. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91 in visual meteorological conditions. The intended destination of the flight was Anchorage, Alaska. No flight plan was filed. The private certificated pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was substantially damaged.

According to the pilot, after an extended water taxi, he took off from the lake and had reached an altitude of approximately 200 ft. when the engine started sputtering. He applied carburetor heat and began executing a 180 degree turn to return to the lake. The engine began to produce full power, but the plane struck the trees and crashed.

Aircraft

Registration
N96330
Reported as
Taylorcraft F-19
Category
Airplane
Serial number
8630
Airframe hours
3,942
Engine
Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Crowell, Dave C.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 21, 1993 · 44 hours before
Departed
Cheri Lake, AK
Destination
LHD · Anchorage, 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
59
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,650 total · 2,600 in this make and model · 2,600 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 26 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
360° at 4 knots
Visibility
90 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
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.