Accident Summary
On July 8, 2014, at approximately 1950 Alaska daylight time, an Aeronca Champ 7BCM, registration N68593, experienced a total loss of engine power while approaching Sky Ranch at Pioneer Peak Airport in Palmer, Alaska. The subsequent forced landing resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. Both occupants—an airline transport rated pilot and a student pilot—sustained minor injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
Flight History
The flight originated at Birchwood Airport in Chugiak, Alaska, around 1530. According to the pilot, his son—a student pilot—had just completed a dual cross-country flight and then flew the airplane solo to Birchwood to pick him up for the return trip to Sky Ranch. The pilot asked the student pilot about the remaining fuel but did not visually verify the fuel quantity before departure. The student pilot occupied the front seat and was to fly the leg back to Sky Ranch, while the pilot was seated in the rear.
Forced Landing and Approach
Approximately three miles from Sky Ranch, the engine lost all power. The pilot took control, lowered the nose to achieve best glide speed, and the engine momentarily regained power. The student pilot then resumed control and initiated a climb, during which the engine lost power again. The pilot reclaimed control and began an approach to Sky Ranch. Due to the aircraft's position and altitude, the pilot chose to land on Runway 06, which involved a tailwind. The pilot reported the airplane was high and entered a slip to lose altitude. Upon recovering from the slip near the runway, he found the airspeed too high for landing. He held the airplane over the runway as the airspeed decreased but was unable to land on the runway surface. He continued to slow the airplane and elected to stall it into a wooded area beyond the departure end of Runway 06. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.
Wreckage Examination
Initial examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed approximately half a gallon of fuel in the wing auxiliary tanks. The center main tank contained only a small amount of residual fuel at the bottom. No preaccident mechanical anomalies were found with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Post-accident examination of the fuel tanks by the NTSB investigator-in-charge showed that the fuel quantity indicator displayed between 1/4 and 1/2 tank full when the center tank was actually empty.