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ANC12CA047

2012-05-13 · Sterling, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Current FAA registration · N615SD

Make / Model
MAULE M-4-220C
Engine
FRANKLIN 6A-350-C1 (220 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19710930
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A802E5

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to use a preflight checklist and subsequent failure to turn on the airplane's fuel supply, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he did not use a preflight checklist, and as a result, he did not turn the fuel selector valve to the "ON" position. During the initial climb, the engine lost power, and the airplane impacted terrain, receiving substantial damage to both wings. The pilot said that the accident could have been prevented through the use of a preflight checklist. The pilot stated that he did not use a preflight checklist, and, as a result, he did not turn the fuel selector valve to the "ON" position. During the initial climb, the engine lost power, and the airplane impacted terrain, sustaining substantial damage to both wings. The pilot said that the accident could have been prevented if he had used a preflight checklist. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of checklist-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Fuel system-Fuel selector/shutoff valve-Incorrect use/operation - C
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft power plant-Engine (reciprocating)-(general)-Inoperative
  • C Aircraft-Fluids/misc hardware-Fluids-Fuel-Fluid management - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_ANC12CA047.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.

Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (fuel starvation). All research papers