Aeronca 15AC N1315H
8 May 1999 · Pedro Bay, Alaska, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 8 May 1999 at about 02:25 local time, a Aeronca 15AC registered N1315H was involved in an accident near Pedro Bay, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously 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 02:25
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Pedro Bay, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 59.8605, -154.0291
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 15AC
- Registration
- N1315H
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Soldotna
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC99LA060
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
A separation of the number 3 engine cylinder head assembly, and a burned through fuel line.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The certificated commercial pilot reported that while climbing through 7,000 feet msl, he smelled smoke in the airplane, followed by a rough running engine. During an emergency descent, he saw smoke and flames coming from underneath the floor boards adjacent to the rudder pedals. The pilot elected to ditch the airplane in shallow ocean water, just short of the beach. Upon touchdown, the airplane nosed over. The pilot said, in part: 'My legs were on fire and I just wanted to put the fire out, and get the airplane on the ground.' An FAA airworthiness inspector traveled to the accident scene, and examined the airplane wreckage. He said that upon closer inspection of the engine, it was discovered that the top portion of the number three cylinder was separated between the cylinder barrel, and the cylinder head. He added that the main fuel supply line was burned through, and disconnected from the carburetor inlet fitting. In his written statement the FAA inspector wrote, in part: '...the vibration shook loose the left engine exhaust pipe which then directed the exhaust onto the fuel line to the carburetor which caused the fire.'
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aeronca 15 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Aug 2000 | Aeronca 15AC | Pettigrew, Arkansas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 2000 | Aeronca 15AC | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 1998 | Aeronca 15AC | Kodiak, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jun 1998 | Aeronca 15AC | Homer, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Apr 2002 | Aeronca 15AC | Sitka, Alaska, United States | James L. Marrs | No injuries | - |
| 16 Aug 1995 | Aeronca 15AC | Glennallen, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 May 1999 | Piper PA-24-260 | Juneau, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 24 May 1999 | Stinson 108 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Glenn A. Ferris | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 May 1999 | De Havilland DHC 2 MK III | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | William A. Sego | No injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 1999 | Cessna 170B | Palmer, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 May 1999 | Piper PA-18 | Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States | James T. Ables | No injuries | - |
| 14 Mar 1999 | Cessna 180G | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |