- Date
- October 20, 1997, 18:00 local (Oct 21, 1997, 02:00 UTC)
- Place
- Naknek, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N7049KPiper PA-20
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19971020030829A
- Case key
- 3103
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power due to the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane prior to fuel exhaustion. A factor associated with the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot departed on a local flight in the tailwheel-equipped airplane with 1/4 tank of fuel visible in the left fuel tank sight gauge. The fuel selector was positioned on the left tank. The right tank contained a small amount of fuel. While in cruise flight, the engine suddenly quit, and the pilot switched to the right fuel tank. The engine started, and ran for another 3 minutes, but quit running a second time. The pilot selected an open area of tundra and performed a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane's right main landing gear was broken from the fuselage. The pilot later reported that he departed with 18 gallons of fuel. The pilot said he encountered unexpected head winds, and switched fuel tanks to his reserve tank. The engine ran a few minutes, and then quit. The pilot reported an inspection of the airplane revealed a restriction in the fuel gauge, producing a false reading.
Factual narrative
On October 20, 1997, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-20, N7049K, crashed during a forced landing about 15 miles south of Naknek, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Naknek Airport, Naknek, Alaska, about 1600.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on October 22, 1997, at 0920, the pilot reported he was flying about 600 to 700 feet above the ground. The pilot indicated he departed on the accident flight with 1/4 tank of fuel visible in the left fuel tank sight gauge. The fuel selector was positioned on the left tank. The right tank contained a small amount of fuel. While in cruise flight, the engine suddenly quit, and the pilot switched to the right fuel tank. The engine started, and ran for another 3 minutes, but quit running a second time. The pilot selected an open area of tundra, and performed a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane's right main landing gear was broken from the fuselage. The airplane received additional damage to the engine, propeller, the right wing lift struts, and the right wing aileron.
In the pilot/operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot, he indicated the flight departed with 18 gallons of fuel. The pilot encountered unexpected head winds, and switched fuel tanks to his reserve tank. The engine ran a few minutes, and then quit. The pilot reported an inspection of the airplane revealed a restriction in the fuel gauge, producing a false reading.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7049K
- Reported as
- Piper PA-20
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20-157
- Airframe hours
- 4,098
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Joel B. Benedict
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 5, 1997 · 80 hours before
- Departed
- 5NK
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,850 total · 1,600 in this make and model · 1,850 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 39 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N7049K · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.