Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

44 Nw Fairbanks, Alaska
Monday, July 10, 1989 17:45 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT RPRTD THAT BEFORE REACHING HIS DESTN, THE ENG LOST POWER OVER WOODED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. HE TURNED THE ACFT BACK TO LAND DOWNWIND ON A SANDBAR, BUT OVERSHOT & TOUCHED DOWN IN WILLOWS. HE STATED THAT EARLIER, HE HAD FULLY SVCD THE PLANE & FLOWN IT 1 HR. HE CALCULATED THERE WAS 4 HRS OF FUEL REMAINING & THE FLT SHOULD HAVE TAKEN ONLY 2 HRS & 40 MIN. DRAINING OF THE FUEL TANKS AFTER THE ACDNT REVEALED THERE WAS 5 GAL IN THE LEFT WING TANK & LESS THAN 1 PINT IN THE RGT TANK. ACCORDING TO THE FLT MANUAL, THIS LEFT ONLY 1.5 GAL OF USABLE FUEL. THE PLT RPRTD THERE WAS LIGHT TURBC DURING THE FLT. CALCULATIONS REVEALED THE ACFT NEEDED AN ADNL 5.4 GAL OF FUEL TO COMPLETE THE FLT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY, TURBULENCE, TAILWIND, TERRAIN CONDITIONS, AND TREES (WILLOWS) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/10/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone --
Event City 44 NW FAIRBANKS
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1309
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 10 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39602
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N91052
NTSB Number ANC89FA119
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 207
Aircraft Series Identifier 207
Aircraft Serial Number 20700039
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LARRY'S FLYING SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3822 UNIVERSITY AVE.
Aircraft Owner City FAIRBANKS
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99707
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LARRY'S FLYING SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3822 SOUTH UNIVERSITY
Operator City FAIRBANKS
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99709
Operator Code FWRA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FYU
Departure City FORT YUKON
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1605
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FAI
Destination City FAIRBANKS
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --