# NTSB ANC98LA020: Piper PA-31-350, N7678L, Nome, AK, February 6, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 6, 1998, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Nome, AK - Coordinates: 64.70996, -164.619155 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7100&lon=-164.6192&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 10 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 28, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3114 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3114/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA020 ## Probable cause The pilot's poor in-flight planning/decision which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. ## 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 - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Wheels up landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - snow covered ## Analysis The flight was nearing its destination with nine passengers aboard when the pilot declared an emergency due to impending fuel exhaustion. The pilot reported both engines stopped as he approached the coastline of the Bering Sea near Nome, Alaska. He was able to glide the airplane to shore, and landed wheels-up on the ice and snow covered terrain. Postaccident inspection of the airplane disclosed no preexisting mechanical abnormalities with the airplane. Fuel was drained from the wing fuel tanks, and yielded a total of approximately 5 ounces. He wrote in his report to the NTSB that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and that he noticed the airplane was very low on fuel. He became concerned about reaching Nome, where he had intended to refuel prior to proceeding to St. Michael. The airplane's Hobb's meter indicated 4.2 hours had elapsed from the beginning of the flight until fuel exhaustion. The pilot said he thought he had 4.5 hours of fuel aboard when he started the flight. ## Factual narrative On February 6, 1998, about 1615 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N7678L, operating as a 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight by Larry's Flying Service, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing on a snow and ice covered shoreline about 7 miles west of Nome, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the nine passengers aboard, reported no injuries. The flight originated at Nome about 1115, and was returning to Nome from Gambell, Alaska. The flight departed Gambell about 1455. During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on February 7, at 1015, the pilot related he was flying the next to last leg of a flight that originated in Nome, with stops at Kaltag, Alaska, and Gambell. He said he filled the airplane's fuel tanks prior to departing Nome, and believed he had 4.5 hours of fuel aboard. He related he boarded nine passengers in Gambell, and that there were eight students and their adult coach, traveling to St. Michael, Alaska, to participate in a basketball game. While en route to Nome, he said he noticed the airplane was very low on fuel, and he became concerned about reaching Nome, where he had intended to refuel prior to proceeding to St. Michael. The pilot radioed the Nome FAA Flight Service Station, and told them he was low on fuel. Prior to reaching Nome, he said his fuel supply became exhausted, and both engines subsequently quit. He selected a forced landing site near the shoreline, and intentionally landed with the landing gear retracted. The airplane slid to a stop, and everyone was able to exit the airplane. The U.S. Army National Guard transported the students to Nome via helicopter. FAA inspectors from the Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office went to the accident site on February 10. They noted substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. They drained the lowest fuel sumps on each wing into a 12 ounce bottle. The total fuel they were able to drain was approximately 5 ounces. The inspectors noted the airplane had accrued 4.2 hours on the Hobbs meter since it had departed Nome. They said the fuel caps sealed properly, the fuel tanks did not appear to be leaking, and that there was no fuel stains on the airplane suggesting any in-flight leaks. The pilot noted in his written report to the NTSB that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7678L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7678L-2000-06-26), registration cancelled 2000-06-26, S/N 31-7305005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7305005 - Airframe hours: 12438 - Engines: Lycoming TSIO-540 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Larry'S Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, January 24, 1998, 19 hours before - Departed: GAM, GAMBELL, AK - Destination: OME - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,400 total, 300 in this make and model, 3,300 as pilot in command, 260 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 20 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: OME, 7 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 19980206002489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980206002489A), Feb 6, 1998: Piper PA31350, Nome, AK, Substantial damage. Fuel exhuastion near destination. Landed gear up on snow and ice covered shorline. (.4) the on-demand air taxi flight was nearing its destination with nine… 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.