N139F

Substantial
None

GRUMMAN G-44 S/N: 1375

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, June 11, 1995
NTSB Number
ANC95LA071
Location
DILLINGHAM, AK
Event ID
20001207X03582
Coordinates
58.820663, -157.860168
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
3
Total Aboard
3

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

Registration
N139F
Make
GRUMMAN
Serial Number
1375
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1944
Model / ICAO
G-44 G44
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Multi Engine
No. of Engines
2

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
WIDGEON ENTERPRISES LLC
Address
24314 140TH AVE SE
Status
Deregistered
City
KENT
State / Zip Code
WA 98042-5111
Country
United States

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