Piper PA-28-140 accident near Sleetmute, Alaska, December 14, 2004
On December 14, 2004 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N801FS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sleetmute, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power during cruise flight due to a fractured exhaust valve, which resulted in a forced landing, and subsequent nose over of the airplane. A factor associated with the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a successful emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 14, 2004 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sleetmute, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N801FS · registry record · serial 28-7125090
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial certificated pilot reported that while the airplane was in level cruise flight at 5,000 msl, he noted a rough running engine and a slight reduction in engine rpm, which was followed by a rapid loss of engine power, and subsequent loss of altitude. He was unable to restore adequate engine power to maintain level flight, and selected a snow-covered area as a forced landing site. During the landing roll, the airplane's nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage. An FAA inspector reported that during his inspection of the accident airplane's engine, he discovered that a significant portion of the exhaust valve had broken free from the exhaust valve stem in the number 1 cylinder. He stated that the broken portion of the valve subsequently entered the number 1 cylinder combustion chamber and damaged the piston.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 542 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 116 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 471 as pilot in command; 135 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,968.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 2004; 102 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z41 Anchorage AK at 5:35 pm
- Destination: BET Bethel AK
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.