# NTSB ANC95LA130: Piper PA-12, N3688M, Ketchikan, AK, August 5, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 4, 1995, 18:00 local (Aug 5, 1995, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Ketchikan, AK - Coordinates: 55.610462, -131.580017 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.6105&lon=-131.5800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2709 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2709/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA130 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND THE WATER IN THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH WATER IN THE FORCED LANDING AREA. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Hard landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING AND LANDED HARD IN ROUGH WATER. THE LANDING DAMAGED THE FLOATS AND BROKE A LOWER LONGERON. THE AIRPLANE SANK AFTER DRIFTING FOR 30 MINUTES. THE PILOT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE SAT ON THE GROUND FOR A LONG TIME IN NEED OF MAINTENANCE. DURING THE PREFLIGHT HE FOUND WATER IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. WHEN HE DRAINED THE GASCOLATOR HE THOUGHT THE FLUID WAS ALL FUEL BECAUSE IT WAS THE SAME COLOR. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM, AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS RECOVERED, SHOWED WATER IN THE GASCOLATOR AND THE CARBURETOR FUEL BOWL. ## Factual narrative On August 4, 1995, at 1800 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N3688M, registered to and operated by the pilot, had a power loss in cruise flight and landed hard on the water in Cordova Bay, Alaska, which is located 38 miles southwest of Ketchikan, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Cordova Bay on a VFR flight plan and the destination was Ward Cove, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. During a telephone conversation with the pilot on August 11, 1995, he stated that he had 4 hours of fuel on board and had flown 2 hours. While in cruise flight, the engine "stumbled" and then stopped producing power. The pilot executed a forced landing in Cordova Bay and landed hard in rough water. The landing damaged the floats and broke a lower longeron. After drifting for 30 minutes the airplane sank. The pilot stated that the airplane had been sitting for 2 weeks and during the preflight he found water in the fuel tank sumps. He also drained the gascolator but stated that the fluid he saw in the cup was not fuel but water. He stated he thought it was fuel because it was all the same color. After the airplane was recovered he found water in the gascolator and the carburetor fuel bowl. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3688M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3688M), registered now, S/N 12-2634, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12 - Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-2634 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John G. Rice - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 1995, 275 hours before - Departed: CORDOVA BAY, AK - Destination: WARD COVE, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,345 total, 375 in this make and model, 1,058 as pilot in command, 279 in the last 90 days, 267 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 20 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19950804028629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950804028629A), Aug 4, 1995: Piper PA12, Ketchikan, AK, Substantial damage. Lost power landed hard in rough water. Damaged floats and longeron. Water in fuel. Misread water in sump to be fuel 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.