What happened
A flight departing from Anchorage-Merrill Field toward Tyonek ended in a fatal accident shortly after takeoff. The single-engine airplane was performing a taxi flight when it experienced a loss of power during the initial climb phase. Following the engine failure, the aircraft lost altitude and collided with a hangar. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and four fatalities among the occupants. No injuries were reported on the ground following the collision.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical issues related to fuel contamination and maintenance procedures. The primary cause was determined to be an engine failure during the climb, which led to the subsequent impact with the building. Specific contributing factors included:
- Presence of water within the fuel system
- A leak discovered in the fuel fill pipe
- Improper refueling procedures where the aircraft was serviced while the storage tank was being filled
- Inadequate preflight inspections and preparation
- Errors made by the ground crew during the servicing process