# NTSB ANC96LA157: Piper PA-12, N7658H, Anchorage, AK, September 16, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 16, 1996, 15:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.160293, -149.990097 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1603&lon=-149.9901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2907 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2907/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA157 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor associated with the accident was: the erroneous (false) indication of the fuel sight tubes. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had approximately 4.5 hours of fuel on board. He indicated that he tried to conserve fuel during his flight by operating the airplane at a reduced power setting, because he knew that the flight time would be close to the airplane's fuel flight time limits. The engine began to sputter as he was crossing Knik Arm. He applied carburetor heat and noted a small improvement in engine RPM. The engine then lost all power. The pilot stated he attempted to land on water, but was unable to reach the water. He landed on mud flats, and the right float struck a gully during the landing. The float strut collapsed, and the airplane dragged the right wing and elevator. During repair of the airplane after the accident, a mechanic found that the fuel sight tubes would show a greater quantity of fuel than was available. ## Factual narrative On September 16, 1996, at 1545 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N7658H, registered to and operated by the pilot, experienced a loss of engine power during cruise flight and was forced to land on the mud flats of Knik Arm near Anchorage, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Lake Louise, Alaska, and the destination was the Lake Hood Seaplane Base in Anchorage. A visual flight rules flight plan was in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated private pilot and the passenger were not injured. The airplane received substantial damage. During a telephone conversation with the pilot on September 17, 1996, he stated that he had approximately 4.5 hours of fuel on board. He was trying to conserve fuel during his flight by operating the airplane at a reduced power setting because he knew that the flight time would place him close to the airplane's fuel flight time limits. The engine began to sputter as he was crossing Knik Arm. He applied carburetor heat and saw a small improvement in engine RPM. The engine then lost all power. The pilot stated he was attempting to land on the water but was unable to reach the water. He landed on the mud flats and the right float struck a gully during landing. The float strut collapsed and the airplane dragged the right wing and elevator. According to the owner, during the repair of the airplane, the mechanic checked the fuel sight tubes against the quantity of fuel in the fuel tank. He found that the fuel sight tubes showed more fuel available than actually in the fuel tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7658H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7658H-2018-02-26), registration cancelled 2018-02-26, S/N 12-537, 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 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-537 - Airframe hours: 3777 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David L Agosti - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 1996, 20 hours before - Departed: 13S, LAKE LOUISE, AK - Destination: LHD, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 415 total, 17 in this make and model, 365 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 8 knots - Visibility: 35 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ANC, 3 nm away ## 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 19960916028509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960916028509A), Sep 16, 1996: Piper PA12, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Float planes engine quit. Landed mud flats. Had exhausted fuel. Fuel sight tubes inacurate. ## Other investigations on N7658H (1) 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 ANC06FA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06FA080), Jun 28, 2006: Piper PA-12 (N7658H), Cooper Landing, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while performing a low level pass, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was an… 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.