Accident Overview
A single-engine airplane departed Anchorage-Merrill Field on a taxi flight to Tyonek, located on the Cook Inlet. Shortly after liftoff, during the initial climb, the engine lost power. The aircraft lost altitude, struck a hangar, and subsequently crashed. The airplane was destroyed in the accident, and all four occupants were killed. There were no injuries or fatalities on the ground.
Sequence of Events
The flight was intended as a taxi flight from Merrill Field to Tyonek. Immediately after takeoff, while in the initial climb phase, the engine ceased producing power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude, and the airplane descended into a hangar before impacting the ground. The collision resulted in the complete destruction of the aircraft.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause of the accident was engine failure during initial climb and subsequent collision with a building due to poor maintenance servicing. Contributing factors included improper servicing of the aircraft by ground crew, inadequate preflight preparation, water contamination in the fuel system (water found in the storage tank and a leak in the fill pipe), and the lineboy servicing the aircraft while the storage tank was being filled.