# NTSB ANC96LA145: Taylorcraft F21B, N4417P, Kenai, AK, September 4, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 1996, 17:00 local (Sep 4, 1996, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Kenai, AK - Coordinates: 60.659076, -150.899002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6591&lon=-150.8990&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2897 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2897/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA145 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper fuel managment, which resulted in loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - wire,transmission - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis According to the pilot, he flew the airplane in a long, slow, turn around his cabin. When he rolled the wings level, the engine stopped producing power. While descending for a forced landing on a road, the airplane's main landing gear struck a power line. The power line broke, but remained attached to the landing gear. During touchdown on the road, the airplane veered off the road and nosed over. The pilot said that during the landing, the power line was dragging behind the airplane. Also, he stated that after the accident, he drained the fuel tanks and found only 2 to 3 gallons of fuel on board. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 1996, at 1700 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Taylorcraft F21B airplane, N4417P, registered to and operated by the pilot, lost engine power during maneuvering flight. The pilot had to execute a forced landing to a road. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Anchorage, Alaska, and the destination was Carty's Airstrip located in Nikiski, Alaska. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. During a telephone conversation with the pilot on September 11, 1996, he stated that he was low on fuel upon arriving in the Nikiski area. He made a long slow circle around his cabin and when he rolled wings level the engine stopped producing power. He selected a road on which to land and during the descent the airplane's landing gear struck some power lines. The power lines broke and the airplane landed on the road. During the landing roll, the airplane veered off the road and nosed over. The pilot stated the power line was wrapped around the landing gear and was dragging along the ground. The pilot said he drained the fuel tanks after landing and found only 2 to 3 gallons of fuel on board. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4417P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4417P), registered now, S/N F1510 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft F21B - Registry model: [Taylorcraft F21B](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-f21b) (registry code 8850909) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F1510 - Airframe hours: 706 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 118 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Johnnie R. Harris - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 1996, 706 hours before - Departed: LHD, ANCHORAGE, AK - Destination: 2R3, NIKISKI, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 350 total, 275 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 99 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °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 19960903029899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960903029899A), Sep 3, 1996: Tcraft F21, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. Low on fuel. Lost power circling cabin. Hit power lines landing on road. Veered off road. Nosed over. 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.