# NTSB ANC98LA094: Meeuwsen Wagabond, N36GM, Wasilla, AK, July 11, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 11, 1998, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Coordinates: 61.51958, -149.569992 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5196&lon=-149.5700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 28, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 43064 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43064/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA094 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - contamination - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane climbed to about 50 feet, the engine suddenly began to run rough, and lost rpm. The pilot applied carburetor heat, and leaned the fuel mixture. The engine speed improved slightly, but continued to run rough. The pilot attempted several carburetor heat and mixture combinations, but the airplane did not gain any altitude. After traveling about 1 mile, the airplane was approaching an area of trees and a roadway with adjacent electrical power lines. The pilot selected an emergency landing area on the roadway and dove the airplane toward the ground between several sets of power lines. The airplane landed on the roadway, and the right wing struck a stop sign. The pilot then applied right rudder to intentionally swerve the airplane into a ditch. The airplane has two, metal wing mounted fuel tanks, each without any individual tank sump. The only fuel sump is an airframe gascolator. The pilot had previously encountered rust deposits in the fuel supply. Prior to departing on the accident flight, the pilot drained about a quart of fuel from the sump, and did not notice any contamination. An examination of the carburetor revealed evidence of rust. ## Factual narrative On July 11, 1998, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, an experimental/homebuilt Meeuwsen Wagabond airplane, N36GM, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing on a roadway, about 5 miles northeast of Wasilla, Alaska. The tailwheel equipped airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the pilot. The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on July 13, 1998, at 1105, the pilot reported the following: He recently completed a flight from California, through Canada, to Wasilla. During the trip through Canada, the pilot encountered rust deposits in the fuel supply. He drained the airplane fuel sump before each flight until no rust deposits were observed. The airplane has two, metal wing mounted fuel tanks. The tanks do not have an individual sump. The only fuel sump is an airframe gascolator. Prior to departing on the accident flight, the pilot said he drained about a quart of fuel from the sump, and did not notice any contamination. The pilot said he departed a private airstrip adjacent to Cottonwood Lake in Wasilla. The airplane climbed to about 50 feet above the lake, and suddenly began to run rough. The engine was producing popping and banging noises, and began losing rpm. The pilot said he applied carburetor heat, and leaned the fuel mixture. The engine speed recovered to about 2200 rpm, but continued to run rough. The pilot reported he attempted several carburetor heat and mixture combinations, but the airplane did not gain any altitude. After traveling about 1 mile over the lake, the airplane was approaching an area of trees and a roadway with adjacent electrical power lines. The pilot said he selected an emergency landing area on the roadway and dove the airplane toward the ground between several sets of power lines. The airplane landed on the roadway, and the right wing struck a stop sign. The pilot said he then applied right rudder to intentionally swerve the airplane into a ditch. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), Anchorage, Alaska, examined the airplane wreckage after the pilot/owner recovered the airplane. The inspector indicated the pilot had fueled the airplane with automotive gasoline from gas cans. The carburetor and the airframe gascolator had been disassembled by the pilot. The inspector noted the gascolator appeared to be clean. The interior of the carburetor bowl exhibited evidence of rust. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N36GM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36GM-2017-04-13), registration cancelled 2017-04-13, S/N GM-2, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Meeuwsen WAGABOND - Registry model: [Meeuwsen Gordon WAGABOND TRAVELER](https://openairdocs.org/model/meeuwsen-gordon-wagabond-traveler) (registry code 05655Z9) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 800 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul J. Reinders - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 7, 1998, 25 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 25,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 13,000 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °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 19980711016479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980711016479A), Jul 11, 1998: Amtr WAGABOND, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Rough engine power loss on climbout. Landed on road. Struck road sign. Rust debris in carb bowl. Possible water. (.4) on July 11, 1998, about 1300 Alaska… ## Other investigations on N36GM (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 ANC02LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA054), Jun 19, 2002: Meeuwsen Gordon Wagabond traveler (N36GM), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots excessive taxi speed. Factors associated with the accident are the rough and uneven terrain of the sandbar, and gusting winds. 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.