Taylorcraft BC12D-85 N5616M

Summary

On 9 August 2005 at about 03:30 local time, a Taylorcraft BC12D-85 registered N5616M was involved in an accident near Wasilla, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. 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 03:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.6333, -149.5333

Aircraft

Taylorcraft BC12D-85

Registration

N5616M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Willow → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC05LA118

2 people had minor injuries.

The total loss of engine power for an unknown reason while maneuvering, which precipitated an emergency descent and landing, and resulted in an in-flight collision with power lines and trees. A factor associated with the accident was the power lines.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was conducting a local personal flight, when the engine lost all power and he was forced to make an emergency landing. In his written statement to the NTSB, he indicated he performed a cruise descent from 2,100 feet to 700 feet above mean sea level (msl) with the carburetor heat on. After a short time at 700 feet he applied full power to gain altitude, and about 900 feet msl, the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine without success. During an emergency landing to a dirt road, the airplane collided with unmarked electrical wires, which redirected the airplane into the trees along the dirt road, resulting in structural damage to the wings and fuselage. An examination of the airplane at the accident site by the NTSB revealed fuel in the carburetor and in the airplane's fuel tank. During an operational test run of the airplane's engine, the engine was started and ran at various power settings. The carburetor was removed and evaluated on a flow test stand. No mechanical anomalies were found with the engine or carburetor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.