On April 14, 2002, an Aeronca 15AC (registration N1272H) operated by James L. Marrs was involved in an aviation accident near Sitka, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A loss of engine power during cruise flight for an undertermined reason. A factor in the accident was rough/uneven beach terrain at the site of the forced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A commercial pilot performed a forced landing on a beach after the engine lost power and quit during cruise. The airplane nosed over after striking a rise, sustaining wing and fuselage damage.
Incident Summary
A commercial certificated pilot was conducting a cross-country personal flight when the engine began to lose power during cruise at approximately 4,000 feet mean sea level. The engine subsequently quit, prompting the pilot to declare an emergency and execute a forced landing on a beach.
Accident Sequence
During the landing roll, the airplane struck a small rise along the beach, causing it to nose over. The impact damaged the wings and fuselage.
Investigation Findings
Postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunction. No further causal factors were identified by the investigation.