# NTSB ANC95LA071: Grumman G-44, N139F, Dillingham, AK, June 11, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 10, 1995, 21:00 local (Jun 11, 1995, 05:00 UTC) - Place: Dillingham, AK - Coordinates: 58.820663, -157.860168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8207&lon=-157.8602&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2661 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2661/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA071 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE, AND HIS IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION(S) WHICH LEAD TO FUEL STARVATION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - 1 engine - fluid,fuel - starvation - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Hard landing, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THE AMPHIBIAN AIRPLANE'S LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT DUE TO 'FUEL EXHAUSTION'. HE SAID HE TURNED THE FUEL CROSSFEED ON, BUT FAILED TO SHUT THE FUEL SELECTOR FOR THE LEFT ENGINE OFF, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED THE RIGHT ENGINE TO QUIT. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTORE POWER TO THE RIGHT ENGINE, BUT WAS TOO LOW TO REGAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO AVOID LANDING HARD ON A SMALL LAKE. ## Factual narrative On June 10, 1995, about 2100 Alaska daylight time, an amphibian Grumman G-44 airplane, N139F, operated by Fresh Water Adventures as a personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing on an unnamed lake located approximately 15 miles northeast of Dillingham, Alaska. Neither the airline transport certificated pilot, or the two passengers aboard were injured. The flight originated in Anchorage, Alaska, and the intended destination was Dillingham, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity of the crash site. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in- charge on June 12, the pilot stated that the left engine lost power due to "fuel exhaustion". He said he turned the fuel crossfeed on when the left engine lost power, but failed to shut the fuel supply to the left engine off, which he said resulted in a loss of power in the right engine also. He restored power to the right engine, but was too low to regain altitude prior to landing hard on a small lake. The pilot said the loss of engine power was due to "fuel exhaustion" and fuel mismanagement, and not a mechanical problem with the airplane or its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N139F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N139F-2013-01-30), registration cancelled 2013-01-30, S/N 1375, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-44 - Registry model: [Grumman G-44](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-44) (registry code 3951502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1375 - Airframe hours: 5151 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Phillip Bingman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 1995, 4 hours before - Departed: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK - Destination: DLG ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 11,270 total, 600 in this make and model, 1,110 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 7 knots - Visibility: 100 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19950610017849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950610017849A), Jun 10, 1995: Gulstm G44, Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage. Fuel depleted left engine. Improper crossfeed procedure. Right engine quit also. Landed amphibian in small lake. ## Other investigations on N139F (3) 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. - [NTSB ANC13FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13FA001), Oct 8, 2012: Grumman G-44 (N139F), Aleknagik, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to make multiple low passes over the glassy surface water, which resulted in an impact with the surface of the lake. - [NTSB ANC11LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11LA084), Aug 21, 2011: Grumman G-44 (N139F), Dillingham, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of directional control during landing due to a rock lodged in the main landing gear wheel brake, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with terrain. - [NTSB ANC98LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA138), Sep 2, 1998: Grumman G-44 (N139F), Dillingham, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain. Contributing factors were the pilot's delayed remedial action (course reversal), low ceilings, rain, fog, and mountainous terrain. 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.