DILLINGHAM, AK, USA
N139F
GRUMMAN G-44
THE PILOT REPORTED THE AMPHIBIAN AIRPLANE'S LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT DUE TO 'FUEL EXHAUSTION'. HE SAID HE TURNED THE FUEL CROSSFEED ON, BUT FAILED TO SHUT THE FUEL SELECTOR FOR THE LEFT ENGINE OFF, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED THE RIGHT ENGINE TO QUIT. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTORE POWER TO THE RIGHT ENGINE, BUT WAS TOO LOW TO REGAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO AVOID LANDING HARD ON A SMALL LAKE.
On June 10, 1995, about 2100 Alaska daylight time, an amphibian Grumman G-44 airplane, N139F, operated by Fresh Water Adventures as a personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing on an unnamed lake located approximately 15 miles northeast of Dillingham, Alaska. Neither the airline transport certificated pilot, or the two passengers aboard were injured. The flight originated in Anchorage, Alaska, and the intended destination was Dillingham, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity of the crash site. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in- charge on June 12, the pilot stated that the left engine lost power due to "fuel exhaustion". He said he turned the fuel crossfeed on when the left engine lost power, but failed to shut the fuel supply to the left engine off, which he said resulted in a loss of power in the right engine also. He restored power to the right engine, but was too low to regain altitude prior to landing hard on a small lake. The pilot said the loss of engine power was due to "fuel exhaustion" and fuel mismanagement, and not a mechanical problem with the airplane or its systems.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE, AND HIS IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION(S) WHICH LEAD TO FUEL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
