# NTSB ANC95LA005: Aeronca Sedan AR-15, N1428H, Nikolai, AK, October 21, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 21, 1994, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Nikolai, AK - Coordinates: 62.86956, -153.869979 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.8696&lon=-153.8700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 29, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2606 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2606/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA005 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE FALLING SNOW, AN OBSTRUCTION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM VENTS, RESTRICTION OF THE FUEL FLOW AND LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA. ## Analysis DURING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS FLYING IN MODERATE FALLING SNOW CONDITIONS FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK A LOG, DAMAGING THE GEAR AND FUSELAGE. AFTER LANDING, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DRAIN FUEL FROM THE FUEL TANKS AND HEARD AIR BEING SUCKED INTO THE TANKS UNTIL THE INTERNAL PRESSURE OF THE TANKS EQUALIZED. THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM VENTS ARE LOCATED ON THE BELLY OF THE FUSELAGE. ## Factual narrative On October 21, 1994 at 1330 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Aeronca Sedan, AR-15 airplane, N1428H, registered to and operated by the Pilot, was forced to land on a gravel bar after a loss of power, and struck a log during the landing roll, near Nikolai, Alaska. The business flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Willow, Alaska, and the destination was Takotna, Alaska. No flight plan was filed but the Pilot's wife was aware of the route of flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the Pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. According to the Pilot, while he was in cruise flight the engine began to lose power. He was unable to keep the engine running and landed on a gravel bar on the South Fork of the Kuskokwim River. During the landing roll he struck a log and damaged the landing gear and the lower longerines of the fuselage. The Pilot stated he attempted to drain a fuel sample from the wing tanks and when he depressed the fuel drain, the fuel tank sucked air. He was able to hear the air gurgle in the fuel tank until the pressure equalized. The Pilot stated that the fuel tank vents are on the belly of the airplane and he had been flying through wet snow for the previous 30 minutes. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - fuel system,vent - obstructed (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - flow restricted (contributing factor) - flight into adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1428H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1428H), registered now, S/N 15AC-489, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA SEDAN AR-15 (SEDAN AR-1) - Registry model: [Aeronca 15AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-15ac) (registry code 0191202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: S15AC489 - Airframe hours: 2900 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Warner, Walt - Registered owner: Warner, Bonnie - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 24, 1994, 119 hours before - Departed: Z22, WILLOW, AK - Destination: TCT, TAKOTNA, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 140 in this make and model, 6,950 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast ## 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 19941021035649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941021035649A), Oct 21, 1994: Aronca 15AC, Nikolai, AK, Substantial damage. Lost power. Struck a log landing on sandbar. Had flown through wet snow shower. Indicates fuel vents iced up. 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.