# NTSB CHI98LA157: Great Lakes 2T-1A-2, N3803F, Tower, MN, May 17, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 17, 1998, 12:51 local (17:51 UTC) - Place: Tower, MN - Coordinates: 47.810886, -92.289894 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8109&lon=-92.2899&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10881 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10881/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA157 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight of the airplane's fuel system, and fuel exhaustion, which resulted in a loss of engine power, due to an inadequate supply of fuel. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Ditching, emergency landing - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot said that after takeoff, the airplane was in a climb at about 2,000 feet agl and 3 miles north of the airport when he began a turn to the east. During the turn, the airplane's engine began to cut in and out. The pilot said that he immediately made a turn back toward the airport, and pushed all of the engine controls forward. The engine continued to surge in and out and then finally quit. The airplane was over a lake at that time. The pilot said that he turned to parallel the shore line, and the airplane touched down in the water about 100 feet from shore. Examination of the airplane's fuel system showed less than one quart of fuel between the fuel tank and the gascolator. No other anomalies with the airplane were found. ## Factual narrative On May 17, 1998, at 1251 central daylight time (cdt), a Great Lakes 2T-1A-2, N3803F, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when while maneuvering over Lake Vermilion, in Tower, Minnesota, the airplane's engine lost power. The airplane subsequently was ditched in the lake. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The business flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A flight plan was not on file. The pilot and the passenger on board reported no injuries. The local sight-seeing flight originated at Tower, Minnesota. In his written statement, the pilot said that he had just taken off from the airport at Tower, Minnesota. He was in a climb at 2,000 feet above ground level (agl) and 3 miles north of the airport when he began a turn to the east. During the turn, the airplane's engine began to cut in and out. The pilot said that he immediately made a turn back toward the Tower airport and pushed all of the engine controls forward. The engine continued to surge in and out and then finally quit. The pilot turned to parallel the shore line and touched down in the water about 100 feet from shore. The pilot said that before he took off, he checked the oil and the fuel float. He said that it appeared to be at the top. The airplane was recovered from the water on May 22, 1998. An airframe and powerplant mechanic examined the airplane in a hangar at the Tower Airport. The mechanic said that the airplane's engine cowling was broken upward. Both of the wheel pants had broken off. The airplane's lower right wing, to include all three spars, was bent aft and broken. The forward spar on the airplane's right top wing was broken. Both of the airplane's left wings, top and bottom, showed skin wrinkles. The cockpit area, main landing gear, and empennage showed minor damage. The airplane's fuel tank, fuel lines, engine, and propeller were undamaged. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination of the airplane's fuel system showed less than one quart of fuel between the fuel tank and the gascolator. Examination of the engine, engine controls and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3803F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3803F), registered now, S/N 0771, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 - Registry model: [Great Lakes 2T-1A-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/great-lakes-2t-1a-2) (registry code 3910101) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0771 - Airframe hours: 4457 - Engines: Lycoming AIO-360-B1G6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Great Lakes Flying, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 1998, 10 hours before - Departed: 12D ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,185 total, 232 in this make and model, 2,003 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ELO, 17 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 19980517016019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980517016019A), May 17, 1998: Grtlks 2T1A2, Tower, MN, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot said that after takeoff, the airplane was in a climb at about 2,000 feet AGL and 3 miles north of the airport when he began a turn to the east.… 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.