Fairchild 42 accident near Wasilla, Alaska, October 12, 2003
On October 12, 2003 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Fairchild 42, registered N106M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wasilla, Alaska (Gannon'S Landing airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate inspection of the carburetor by the aircraft mechanic who had recently worked on the carburetor, which failed to detect a cracked float, resulting in a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. A factor associated with the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2003 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska · Gannon'S Landing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild 42
- Registration
- N106M · registry record · serial 4
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident pilot, a certified aircraft mechanic, reported the airplane was in cruise flight when the engine had a total loss of engine power. Emergency procedures failed to restart the engine, and the pilot selected an airstrip for an emergency landing site. The airplane was unable to reach the airstrip, and collided with trees. Postaccident inspection of the engine disclosed a leaking carburetor. The leaking carburetor was removed, and replaced with a serviceable carburetor. The engine started and ran without any observed deficiencies. The leaking carburetor was disassembled, and the metal float was found to be cracked. The metal float contained 2.4 ounces of fuel. The pilot noted that he had recently purchased the carburetor from an aircraft mechanic, and that he had requested the carburetor to be overhauled prior to installation on the accident airplane. The mechanic stated he did not perform the carburetor float leak check because he only de-preserved the carburetor, and did not overhaul the carburetor. The carburetor had been installed on the airplane about 3 flight hours prior to the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 106 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 3, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,801 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 28, 2003; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985-14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0AK1 Wasilla AK at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC04LA003.