On October 1, 1991, an Aeronca SEDAN 15AC (registration N1416H) operated by Darin Applebury was involved in an aviation accident near Anchorage, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ENSURE THAT THE FUEL CAPS WERE SECURE, WHICH RESTULED IN A FUEL LEAK AND SUBSEQUENT FUEL EXHAUSTION. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot observed fuel streaming from wing trailing edges before engine power loss. Despite using the fuel primer, the engine could not be kept running. The aircraft nosed over during a forced landing on mud flats and sustained damage. Examination revealed no fuel in the carburetor bowl.
Incident Summary
A pilot reported seeing fuel streaming from the trailing edge of the wings during flight. Shortly thereafter, the engine began losing power. The pilot attempted to keep the engine running by using the fuel primer but was unsuccessful. The aircraft subsequently performed a forced landing on mud flats. During the landing, the airplane nosed over and was damaged. The wings of the airplane were not recovered, as they disappeared with the tide, preventing a check of the fuel quantity.
Aircraft Modifications
The airplane had undergone an engine replacement. The original 145 horsepower engine had been swapped for a 200 horsepower engine. However, the original fuel caps with integral fuel system vents remained installed.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination of the aircraft after the accident showed that there was no fuel in the carburetor bowl. The absence of the wings due to the tide precluded any determination of the fuel quantity that had been onboard.