Accident Summary
On May 19, 2013, at about 0635 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-16 airplane, registration N5372H, is presumed to have sustained substantial damage during a forced landing and ditching following a loss of engine power after takeoff near Juneau, Alaska. The aircraft was operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed a beach on Shelter Island at approximately 0635, destined for Juneau.
Pilot Account
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on May 21, the pilot stated that he had flown out the previous evening to stay with friends camping on Shelter Island. The following morning, he performed a preflight inspection and departed the beach for Juneau. Just after takeoff, as the airplane climbed through approximately 350 feet above ground level, the engine suddenly lost all power. Unable to restart the engine, he turned back toward the beach and ditched the airplane in the ocean. Upon landing, the airplane skipped twice and skied across the water surface for about 100 feet before nosing over abruptly. The cabin began to fill rapidly with water. The pilot and passenger evacuated through the right-hand side door and sat on top of the inverted airplane until the wreckage began to sink. They then began swimming for shore but were picked up by a boat.
Wreckage and Damage
The airplane sank in approximately 400 feet of ocean water and was not recovered, leading to the presumption of substantial damage. The pilot stated that the airplane's maintenance logbooks were on board and sank with the wreckage, so they could not be reviewed. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming O-235 engine.
Weather Information
Shelter Island is about 10 miles northwest of Juneau, trending northwest between Saginaw and Favorite Channels in the inside passage of the north Pacific Ocean. The area is influenced by strong tides and ocean currents. The closest weather reporting facility is Juneau Airport, about 10 miles east of the accident site. At 0653, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) at Juneau, Alaska, reported wind from 060 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 4800 feet, broken clouds at 7500 feet and 9000 feet, temperature 38°F, dew point 35°F, and altimeter 30.35 inHg.