Stinson ST-75 N235C
11 April 1996 · Anchorage, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 11 April 1996 at about 18:12 local time, a Stinson ST-75 registered N235C was involved in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:12
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Anchorage, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 61.1608, -149.9892
- Aircraft
- Stinson ST-75
- Registration
- N235C
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Homer
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC96LA046
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to select the proper fuel tank prior to takeoff resulting in fuel starvation. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to follow the checklist.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The airplane had a new fuel valve installed and the mechanic put 10 gallons of fuel in each wing tank to perform the installation and tests. Prior to takeoff, the pilot filled the right fuel tank and did not visually check the left fuel tank quantity. The pilot stated that his taxi and runup took approximately 15 minutes. This was accomplished with the left fuel tank selected. The pilot made the takeoff and after reaching 300 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. He selected the right fuel tank and some power was restored. He stated that he was too low to the ground so he turned his attention to the forced landing. Later examination showed that the left fuel tank had 15 gallons of fuel. However, the left wing tip was resting on the ground and the fuel tanks interconnect through the fuel valve even when the fuel valve is in the off position. The aircraft owner's operating manual pre takeoff checklist states that the fuel selector should be placed on the tank with the greatest amount of fuel. The engine was examined and no mechanical failure was found.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Stinson ST-75 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Aug 1992 | Stinson ST-75 | Sussex, New Jersey, United States | Richard Kravit | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Apr 1996 | Piper PA-28 | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Apr 1996 | Piper PA-11 | Paxson, Alaska, United States | Mark W. Barkdull | No injuries | - |
| 24 Apr 1996 | Piper PA-14 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | David Calkins | No injuries | - |
| 27 Apr 1996 | Piper PA-18 | Kotzebue, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Apr 1996 | Cessna 180H | Palmer, Alaska, United States | Richard Greeno | No injuries | - |
| 28 Apr 1996 | Piper PA-18 | Kasilof, Alaska, United States | Paul G. Isaak | No injuries | - |