WASILLA, AK, USA
N9359D
PIPER PA-18-150
DURING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED LOW VISIBILITY AND STRONG HEADWINDS, AND DEVIATED SOUTH OF HIS INTENDED ROUTE. HE MADE A RADIO REQUEST FOR FUEL, AND HE AND ANOTHER PILOT LANDED AT SKWENTNA. HE WAS PROVIDED WITH ABOUT 3 TO 4 GALS OF FUEL FROM THE OTHER AIRPLANE. THE PILOT THEN DEPARTED FOR HIS DESTINATION. THE ENGINE QUIT ABOUT 2 MI SHORT OF THE DESTINATION STRIP. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING THE FORCED LANDING. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED TTHAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. IN ADDITION, FUEL STAINING WAS OSERVED ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE LEFT WING FROM THE FUEL CAP TO THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE WING.
On September 17, 1994, at approximately 1325 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N9359D, registered to and operated by the pilot-in-command, collided with trees during a forced landing near mile 49 of the Parks Highway, approximately 10 miles northwest of Wasilla, Alaska. The private certificated pilot/guide, the sole occupant, received serious injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 for the purpose of transporting moose meat out of the game area, last departed Skwentna, Alaska, about 1245 hours as a continuation of a flight that originated from the south fork of the Kuskokwim River. The intended destination was a private landing strip located about two miles from the accident site. There was no flight plan on file for the flight. Two witnesses to the mishap reported to the Alaska State Troopers who visited the scene that they assisted the pilot in exiting the airplane and that the pilot told them that he was out of fuel. The airplane contained moose meat, a moose rack tied to the right wing strut, and 5 empty five-gallon fuel containers. A pilot witness reported that the pilot of the accident airplane made radio contact in the Ptarmigan Pass area, indicating that he had attempted to fly through Rainy Pass; however, poor visibility had forced a deviation to the south. In addition, strong headwinds of about 35 MP were slowing the flight and the accident aircraft pilot made a radio request for fuel. The two pilots arranged to meet at Skwentna and both airplanes landed about 1200 hours. The accident aircraft pilot was provided with about 3 to 4 gallons of fuel from the first airplane that was then poured into the right wing fuel tank of the accident airplane. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Anchorage Flight Standard District Office (FSDO), visited the accident scene and reported that the fuel tanks were empty. He also observed fuel staining on the upper surface of the left wing from the fuel cap to the trailing edge of the wing. The pilot certificate information and aeronautical experience listed in this report was obtained from a review of FAA records on file at the Airman and Medical Records Center located in Oklahoma City.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL WAS AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SIPHONING OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL CAP.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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