Piper PA-18-150 N717DR

Summary

On 9 August 2005 at about 17:15 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N717DR was involved in an accident near Chickaloon, Alaska, United States. 2 people were 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

9 August 2005 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Chickaloon, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.9381, -147.1686

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N717DR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chickaloon → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC05LA120

Nobody was injured.

A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in a emergency landing/collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was conducting a Title 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight in a float-equipped airplane. The pilot reported the airplane lost engine power during the initial climb after takeoff from a small lake, and he made a forced landing on tundra-covered terrain. An inspection of the airplane revealed no obvious reason for the loss of engine power. The gascolator was breached during the accident, but about one-half ounce of fuel was collected from the gascolator. The sample was clear, light blue, appeared uncontaminated, and smelled like avgas. Fuel samples taken from the operator's supply tank were light colored and cloudy, with visible signs of contamination. The owner had the engine and carburetor disassembled and inspected at a certified aircraft engine repair station, and nothing was found that would result in a loss of engine power. The pilot said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained structural damage to the right wing and fuselage during the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.