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NTSB Report
August 13, 1982 · Piper PA-12 · N2701M
Polly Creek, AK
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 13, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Polly Creek, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-12
Tail Number
N2701M
Operator
Gary S Liepitz
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC82DA071
The pilot landed on the beach near the mouth of Polly Creek to go fishing. After fishing for several hours, he noticed fuel leaking from the filler cap on the left main tank. This occurred when fuel cross-flowed from the right auxiliary tank. The pilot turned off the left main and right auxiliary fuel tanks to stop the cross feed. After several more hours, the tide began coming in and the pilot hurried his preflight to get off the beach. During takeoff, the engine coughed at lift-off, prompting the pilot to abort. The aircraft bounced 2 or 3 times on the beach which was uneven, then the left main gear entered the surf. Subsequently, the plane veered and nosed over in deeper water. The pilot stated that he had planned to takeoff using the full left tank. After the accident, he found the right fuel selector was on, but the left main tank was only partially on. He believed this caused the engine to sputter from fuel starvation. Before recovery, the plane was further damaged by the surf.
Full Narrative
THE PILOT LANDED ON THE BEACH NEAR THE MOUTH OF POLLY CREEK TO GO FISHING. AFTER FISHING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. HE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FILLER CAP ON THE LEFT MAIN TANK. THIS OCCURRED WHEN FUEL CROSS-FLOWED FROM THE RIGHT AUXILIARY TANK. THE PILOT TURNED OFF THE LEFT MAIN AND RIGHT AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS TO STOP THE CROSS FEED. AFTER SEVERAL MORE HOURS, THE TIDE BEGAN COMING IN AND THE PILOT HURRIED HIS PREFLIGHT TO GET OFF THE BEACH DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE COUGHED AT LIFT-OFF, PROMOTING THE PILOT TO ABORT. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED 2 OR 3 TIMES ON THE BEACH WHICH WAS UNEVEN, THEN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR ENTERED THE SURF. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE VEERED AND NOSED OVER IN DEEPER WATER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD PLANNED TO TAKEOFF USING THE FULL LEFT TANK. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE FOUND THE RIGHT FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON, BUT THE LEFT MAIN TANK WAS ONLY PARTIALLY ON. HE BELIEVED THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SPUTTER FROM FUEL STARVATION. BEFORE RECOVERY, THE PLANE WAS FURTHER DAMAGED BY THE SURF.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:20 AHDT
Nearest Airport(Unimproved Beach) (0nm N)
Runway0
Runway Length10000 ft
Runway Width25 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-12
Tail NumberN2701M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorGary S Liepitz
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-C · Reciprocating · 100
Seats3
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 30 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind225° @ 4 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point15 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg