- Date
- December 23, 1987, 06:11 local (10:11 UTC)
- Place
- Kenai, AK
- Injuries
- 6 fatal, 2 serious, 2 minor; on the ground: 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N496SCPiper PA-31-350
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report August 2, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations
- Yes
- FAA report
- 19871223080069A
- Case key
- 15894
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 had just departed the runway when he reported to the flight service station that he had engine problems. The aircraft was observed by witnesses to be about 300 ft on a descending downwind. The pilot stated that he was circling for runway one. Surviving passengers described the engines as running rough and uneven. The investigation revealed that the aircraft's weight was more than the pilot had calculated and the c.g. was 3.4 inches further aft than was calculated. However, the weight and c.g. were within limits. Examination of the engine disclosed that the right engine had an extensive cylinder head crack, a partially disconnected intake pipe, and was capable of producing 55% of rated power. The left engine had seven severly worn cam lobes. The rudder trim was deflected full left at impact. The evidenceindicated that the pilot had retarded the throttle for the left engine and was using only the right engine to sustain flight. Exam of company checklist usage revealed several different improper versions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N496SC
- Reported as
- Piper PA-31-350
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31.7752077
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540, 350 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- South Central Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · December 16, 1987 · 45 hours before
- Destination
- ANC · Anchorage, AK
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- EMA · Kenai Muni, runway 1, 7,600 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 54
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 14,500 total · 11,600 as pilot in command · 86 in the last 90 days · 62 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 20° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 34 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ENA, 1 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.