Accident
On November 12, 2023, at about 1615 Alaska standard time, a Piper PA-22, registration N8095C, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing short of runway 32 at an airport near Anchorage, Alaska. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported minor injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Preflight and Departure
The pilot reported that he intended to perform a short flight to operate the engine, minimizing the time between flights. Earlier in the afternoon, he had cleared snow from the airplane and completed most preflight items. Later, he unplugged the engine heater, removed the engine blanket, and conducted a final preflight check. The pilot estimated the fuel tanks contained a total of about 12 to 14 gallons, approximately 7 gallons in each wing tank. He noted that the airplane had non-standard, larger fuel tanks, making it difficult to measure quantities below 10 gallons, and he was uncertain about the amount of unusable fuel in each tank.
Approach and Power Loss
At about 1610, the pilot departed from runway 32 and flew a close-in pattern, climbing to about 800 ft mean sea level. On the downwind leg, he reduced engine power to 1500 rpm to begin the approach. On final approach, he executed an uncoordinated slip to increase the descent rate. Near the end of the approach, he further reduced power but realized he was too low. Applying power to reduce the descent rate, the engine did not respond, and he recognized a total loss of engine power. He switched the fuel selector from the left tank to the both position to attempt restoring power. Determining insufficient altitude to reach the runway, he performed a forced landing short of the runway. The main landing gear struck a berm along a roadway crossing the approach end of runway 32, causing substantial damage to the fuselage and left-wing strut.
Postaccident Examination
After the accident, the pilot stated that the combination of a low fuel state and the forward slip may have un-ported the fuel in the tank, resulting in the total loss of engine power.
A postaccident examination revealed that both left and right fuel tanks were empty. The gascolator was full of fuel consistent with 100LL aviation gasoline, but no fuel was observed in the lines entering or exiting the gascolator. The fuel strainer was clean and contained no water.
Examination of the engine found no discrepancies with the throttle, mixture, or carburetor heat controls. Top spark plugs were in serviceable condition with normal electrodes. Both magnetos and ignition leads produced spark at the top ignition leads when the crankshaft was rotated. A thumb compression check of all four cylinders confirmed compression. Oil level and condition were normal. The air filter was serviceable, and the carburetor throat was clear of obstructions.