N4214H

On August 18, 1998, about 2130 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-14 airplane, N4214H, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot, and the one passenger aboard received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Birchwood Airport, about 2050.

During a conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on August 19, the pilot reported that he had completed three, solo, touch-and-go landings. He noted that prior to the accident flight, his brother boarded the airplane for a local area flight. He stated that while departing runway 19, about midway down the runway, all engine power was lost. He said that he did not have sufficient altitude to return to the runway, and made a forced landing in trees bordering the runway.

In the pilot's written statement to the NTSB, he reported that when the flight originated, the right main fuel tank was full, and the left main fuel tank was about one-quarter full. The left and right auxiliary fuel tanks were empty, and not in use at the time of the accident. He said that the entire flight was accomplished with the fuel selector valve on the right tank.

A pilot-rated police officer that responded to the initial accident call, arrived on scene about 15 minutes after the accident. He reported that upon his arrival, the left main fuel tank was "dry", and the right fuel tank appeared to be full. He added that the main fuel selector valve had been placed in the "off" position prior to his arrival. The police officer said that the pilot had closed the fuel valve prior to exiting the airplane.

The airplane's wings, and fuselage sustained substantial damage.