Incident Overview
A flight conducting a tourist stopover on a glacier experienced an engine failure shortly after takeoff, leading to a crash landing. The aircraft had landed at the 5,600-foot level of Ruth Glacier for a 20-minute stopover. Another aircraft from the same company, flown by a senior pilot, also landed at the site.
Fuel Discrepancy Detection
During the stopover, the senior pilot noticed a fuel tank filler cap hanging loose on the accident aircraft. The two pilots then measured the fuel in the tanks and found that one tank was empty. They determined that the aircraft should be flown off the glacier to verify the fuel level on the gauges in level flight attitude. The plan was that if the accident pilot had any doubt about sufficient fuel quantity, he would return to the glacier and fuel would be brought to him.
Engine Failure and Crash Landing
Approximately three minutes after takeoff, the engine quit. The flight made a crash landing at the 2,800-foot elevation. Passengers reported that the pilot told them to tighten (or fasten) their seatbelts during the engine-out descent. No passenger could recall knowing that impact was imminent.
Post-Accident Fuel Examination
After the crash, the right fuel tank was found empty, and the left tank contained between 2 and 5 gallons of fuel. A passenger stated that the right tank was indicating empty on the trip to the glacier from Talkeetna.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the outcome of operating an aircraft with a known fuel imbalance and an empty tank, as the engine failed shortly after a takeoff intended to verify fuel levels.