Piper PA-31-350 N7678L

Summary

On 6 February 1998 at about 20:15 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N7678L was involved in an accident near Nome, Alaska, United States. 10 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 February 1998 at 20:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Nome, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

64.7100, -164.6192

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-350

Registration

N7678L

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gambell → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC98LA020

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's poor in-flight planning/decision which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight was nearing its destination with nine passengers aboard when the pilot declared an emergency due to impending fuel exhaustion. The pilot reported both engines stopped as he approached the coastline of the Bering Sea near Nome, Alaska. He was able to glide the airplane to shore, and landed wheels-up on the ice and snow covered terrain. Postaccident inspection of the airplane disclosed no preexisting mechanical abnormalities with the airplane. Fuel was drained from the wing fuel tanks, and yielded a total of approximately 5 ounces. He wrote in his report to the NTSB that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and that he noticed the airplane was very low on fuel. He became concerned about reaching Nome, where he had intended to refuel prior to proceeding to St. Michael. The airplane's Hobb's meter indicated 4.2 hours had elapsed from the beginning of the flight until fuel exhaustion. The pilot said he thought he had 4.5 hours of fuel aboard when he started the flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.