NTSB Factual Report

On July 8, 2014, about 1950 Alaska daylight time, an Aeronca Champ 7BCM airplane, N68593, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing, following a total loss of engine power while approaching the Sky Ranch at Pioneer Peak Airport, Palmer, Alaska. The airline transport rated pilot and the student pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska about 1530, and was destined to Sky Ranch.

In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot stated that his son, who is a student pilot, had just completed a dual cross country flight, and then flew the airplane solo to the Birchwood Airport to pick him up and return to Sky Ranch. The pilot asked the student pilot how much fuel was remaining, but he did not visually check the fuel quantity before the flight. The pilot was seated in the rear seat and his son, who was going to fly the leg back to Sky Ranch, was seated in the front seat.

Approximately three miles from Sky Ranch the airplane's engine lost all power. The pilot assumed control of the airplane from the student pilot, and lowered the nose to attain best glide speed. As the nose of the airplane lowered, the engine regained power. The student pilot again assumed control of the airplane and initiated a climb. During the climb, the engine lost power again, and the pilot assumed control of the airplane and started an approach to Sky Ranch.

Due to the location and altitude of the airplane, the pilot elected to make an approach to Runway 06, which involved landing with a tailwind. The pilot said that the airplane was high, so he entered a slip to lose altitude. When he recovered from the slip near the runway, he realized that his airspeed had increased, and he was flying too fast to land. He held the airplane over the runway while his airspeed decreased, but was unable to land on the runway surface. He continued to slow the airplane and elected to stall it into an area of trees past the departure end of Runway 06. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.

Initial examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that there was approximately one half gallon of fuel in the wing auxiliary tanks. Visual examination of the fuel quantity in the center main tank noted only a small amount of residual fuel in the bottom of the tank. No preaccident mechanical anomalies were noted with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Postacccident examination of the fuel tanks by the NTSB IIC revealed that the fuel quantity indicator showed between 1/4 and 1/2 tank full when the center fuel tank was empty.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to ensure adequate fuel was onboard to complete the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the improperly calibrated fuel quantity indication system.