Piper J5-C N4769C

Summary

On 30 March 1998 at about 18:20 local time, a Piper J5-C registered N4769C was involved in an accident near Valdez, 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.

Date

30 March 1998 at 18:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Valdez, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.1497, -146.8100

Aircraft

Piper J5-C

Registration

N4769C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC98LA033

Nobody was injured.

The owner/pilot mechanic's improper overhaul of the engine, and lack of proper lubricating cylinder grease. A factor in the accident was the lack of a suitable area for a forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot, who also held a mechanic certificates, had overhauled the airplane engine. The accident flight was the first flight since the overhaul. About 5 minutes after departure, the engine lost power. The pilot restarted the engine, but it only ran another 45 seconds before stopping again. The pilot selected an emergency landing area on a highway, but had to slip the airplane to avoid several vehicles on the highway. The airplane collided with a power line about 25 feet above the ground, and then descended to the ground. Disassembly of the engine revealed all the engine cylinders were scored. The pilot had installed chrome cylinders, and during the assembly, he applied a coating of light grease to each engine cylinder bore. According to an FAA inspector, the engine cylinders required an application of a thicker grease than what was used by the pilot.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.