N27PHGrumman Aircraft Eng C-1A · 1957

On October 15, 2012, about 1557 Alaska daylight time, a twin-engine Grumman C-1A "Trader" airplane, N27PH, was destroyed when it collided with tree-covered terrain and incurred a postcrash fire and explosion about 19 miles west of Willow, Alaska. The airline transport rated pilot, who was the only occupant, was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to Fuel Services, LLC, Anchorage, Alaska, and was being operated as a 14 CFR Part 91 visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country fuel transport flight when the accident occurred. Marginal visual meteorological conditions were reported at the airplane's point of departure. The accident flight originated from the Wasilla Airport, Wasilla, Alaska, about 1520, en route to the Nixon Fork Mine, about 28 miles northeast of McGrath, Alaska.

According to the co-owner of the airplane, the purpose of the flight was to transport approximately 900 gallons of diesel fuel to a company owned tank that supplies fuel for a mining operation.

When the airplane did not arrive at its destination, the co-owner of the airplane reported it overdue to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at 1757. After being notified of the overdue airplane, personnel from the 11th Air Force's Rescue Coordination Center initiated a search for the missing airplane along its supposed route of flight. On the morning of October 16, an Air National Guard C-130 Hercules was able to locate the wreckage. Rescue personnel aboard a HH-60G helicopter were able to reach the site later that morning, and confirmed the pilot was deceased.

Two witnesses reported seeing the airplane fly over their locations. The first witness saw the airplane as it was flying northwest at an altitude that he estimated at 3,000 to 4,000 feet under an overcast layer. He stated that the airplane did not sound "normal," but he did not notice anything unusual, like smoke, trailing the airplane.

The second witness stated that he saw the airplane fly over his cabin headed southeast at an estimated altitude of 300 to 400 feet. He stated that the airplane sounded like it was "struggling," but he could not see anything abnormal about the airplanes appearance.

Primary radar data taken from the Anchorage Terminal Radar Approach Control Facility (TRACON), shows an unidentified aircraft, believed to be the accident airplane, depart the Wasilla airport about 1522. After departure, the track proceeded to the Northwest with cruising groundspeeds of between 180 and 193 knots. No altitude or transponder code data was transmitted by the airplane. Around 1343 the radar track changed direction and proceeded to the southeast. Groundspeeds after the track changed direction started at 143 knots, and gradually decreased to a low of 117 knots about 5 minutes before the accident. The last radar plot for the airplane was at 1556:47, approximately 5.5 nautical miles from the accident site, and showed a heading of 088 degrees, and a groundspeed of 175 knots.

The pilot, age 62, held an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with airplane multiengine land, airplane multiengine sea, airplane single engine land, airplane single engine sea, and rotorcraft-helicopter ratings. His most recent first-class medical was issued on February 7, 2012, with the limitation that he must have glasses available for near vision.

No personal flight records were located for the pilot, and the aeronautical experience listed on page 3 of this report was obtained from a review of the airmen Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records on file in the Airman and Medical Records Center located in Oklahoma City. On the pilot's application for medical certificate, dated February 7, 2012, he indicated that his total aeronautical experience was about 25,000 hours, of which 200 were in the previous 6 months.

The airplane was a surplus United States Navy, high-wing, twin-engine, transport airplane manufactured by the Grumman Aerospace Corporation in 1957. It was powered by two Wright R-1820-82WA Cyclone, nine cylinder radial piston engines, each capable of producing 1,525 horsepower.

No logbooks or other maintenance records were located, and according to the owner were onboard the airplane at the time of the accident, and destroyed by the postcrash fire.

The closest weather reporting station to the accident site is the Skwentna Airport, Skwentna, Alaska, about 22 miles west. About 63 minutes before the accident, at 1452, a weather observation was reporting, in part: Wind, 350 degrees (true) at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots; visibility, 15 statute miles; sky condition, scattered at 1,500 feet, 3,000 feet overcast; temperature, 30 degrees F; dew point, 23 degrees F; altimeter, 29.11 inches Hg.

There were two witness reports that included weather conditions from their viewpoint. The first, near Willow, reported that there was an overcast layer about 5,000 feet agl, with no precipitation. The second, about 14 miles northwest of the accident site, reported an overcast ceiling between 600 and 1000 feet, with occasional snow showers. He said that the airplane was flying below the ceiling, going in, and out of some of the low clouds.

See the NTSB Meteorology Report in the public docket for this accident for more detailed weather information.

The airplane was a surplus United States Navy, high-wing, twin-engine, transport airplane manufactured by the Grumman Aerospace Corporation in 1957. It was powered by two Wright R-1820-82WA Cyclone, nine cylinder radial piston engines, each capable of producing 1,525 horsepower.

No logbooks or other maintenance records were located, and according to the owner were onboard the airplane at the time of the accident, and destroyed by the postcrash fire.

The airplane impacted in tree covered terrain on an approximate heading of 125 degrees. Portions of the fragmented airplane were scattered along a debris path oriented along a magnetic heading of 130 degrees, and measured about 240 feet from the point of initial impact to the furthest piece of wreckage. The initial point of impact was noted to be a birch tree, approximately 60 feet from the first point of ground impact.

The first point of ground impact was noted to be the left wing tip. The left wing tip structure was found buried approximately 1 foot under the ground. An impact scar, consistent with the left wing leading edge, extended from the initial ground impact point. Fragments of the left wing were found adjacent to the ground scar. From the first point of impact to the first ground scar, it could be surmised that the angle of impact was approximately 60 degrees nose down.

A postimpact fire and explosion destroyed most of the airplane's structure.

There was an impact crater of size and shape consistent with the left engine and propeller. A second impact crater consistent with the fuselage was adjacent to the first crater. The second crater contained the empennage, the left engine and propeller, and left engine nacelle. A tree adjacent to the second crater on the southwest edge had significant scraping and marks, as well as two pieces of embedded metal which looked like it came from a propeller. The marks were consistent with contact from the right engine propeller and the empennage.

The empennage remained mostly intact, and came to rest upside down on the edge of the second impact crater. The horizontal stabilizer was mostly undamaged. The vertical stabilizer sustained fire damage consistent with the postimpact fire. No anomalies were noted with either the pitch or rudder trim systems.

Just adjacent to the second crater on the north edge, were the right engine propeller, and the remains of the cockpit and forward fuselage.

A second area of severely burned wreckage was located approximately 15 feet forward of the second impact crater on an approximate 125 degree heading. Amongst the charred wreckage were the remains of the fuselage, a large section of the right wing and engine nacelle, the right engine, and various other pieces of burned wreckage.

The left engine, located in the first impact crater, was partially buried. No anomalies were noted to the visible portion of the exterior of the engine case. The exhaust tubes had malleable bending and folding, producing sharp creases that were not cracked or broken along the creases. The left propeller remained attached to the engine. All three blades were bent aft and exhibited a slight amount of torsional S-bending. The left propeller hub also showed rotational scoring.

The right engine, located in the second area of wreckage, sustained severe thermal damage during the postaccident fire. The exhaust tubes showed no signs of ductile folding. The right propeller separated from the engine at the crankshaft. All three blades showed leading edge gouging, chord wise scratching, and torsional S-bending.

About 3 months prior to the accident, the airplane was involved in a gear up landing, which required inspection of the engine, and replacement of the engine propellers for both engines. The operator told the NTSB IIC that the inspections were satisfactory, but could not provide documentation to support.

A more detailed examination of the airframe and engines was not possible because the wreckage was never recovered from the accident site.

The operator did not fill out the required NTSB Pilot/Operator accident reporting form 6120.1.

No communications were noted with the accident airplane

A postmortem examination of the pilot was done under the authority of the Alaska State Medical Examiner, Anchorage, Alaska, on October 17, 2012. The examination revealed that the cause of death for the pilot was attributed to blunt force injuries.

A toxicological examination by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) on January 9, 2013 was negative for any carbon monoxide, alcohol, or drugs. FIREA review of the on-scene photos by an NTSB fire and explosives investigator revealed that there was no evidence of an in-flight fire.

The company was set up to transport fuel to support mining operations at various locations throughout Alaska. Since the operator leased the fuel farms that they delivered fuel to, it was not required for them to operate as a FAR Part 135 carrier.