Summary
On June 11, 1995, a Grumman G-44 (N139F) was involved in an incident near Dillingham, AK. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE, AND HIS IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION(S) WHICH LEAD TO FUEL STARVATION.
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".
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC95LA071. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N139F.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE, AND HIS IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION(S) WHICH LEAD TO FUEL STARVATION.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
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.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC95LA071