On March 23, 1996, a Piper PA-12 (registration N2431M) was involved in an aviation accident near Cantwell, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to maintain adequate airspeed or altitude, likely due to fuel exhaustion, as evidenced by the lack of mechanical defects and the inability to determine fuel quantity. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot on his first solo cross-country flight experienced an unexplained loss of engine power after overflying a runway. He executed a turn and landed in deep snow, with no mechanical faults found during post-accident examination.
What happened
The incident occurred during a solo cross-country flight conducted by a student pilot. According to the factual narrative, the pilot had just overflown an airport runway that was deemed unsuitable for landing operations. At this point in the flight, the engine began to exhibit a loss of power. In response to the developing situation, the pilot executed a slight turn to adjust his approach and was subsequently forced to make an emergency landing in deep snow.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators conducted a thorough examination of the airplane and its engine to determine the root cause of the power loss. The inspection revealed no mechanical reasons for the failure. However, due to the conditions, the fuel quantity could not be determined during the initial assessment.
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain adequate airspeed or altitude, likely due to fuel exhaustion, as evidenced by the lack of mechanical defects and the inability to determine fuel quantity.