Bradley Sky-Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

North Pole, Alaska 99705
Sunday, September 23, 2001 11:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The certificated commerical pilot was conducting skydiving operations in the vicinity of the accident airport. After the airplane climbed to about 11,500 feet msl, all three of the skydivers aboard exited the airplane, and the pilot began a descent to return to the departure airport. The pilot said that while on approach, all engine power was lost, and emergency engine procedures did not restore engine power. The airplane collided with trees and sustained extensive damage to the wings, and fuselage. A responding FAA inspector gathered a fuel sample from the accident airplane's carburetor float bowl. Laboratory analysis of the sample revealed the sample met the specifications for aviation fuel. Contaminates in the fuel sample consisted of vegetative material, dirt, sand, and wood pieces.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power, due to contaminated fuel, during approach for landing. A factor associated with the accident was unsuitable terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/23/2001
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone --
Event City North Pole
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99705
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 644555N
Event Location Longitude 1472323W
Event Location Airport Bradley Sky-Ranch
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 95Z
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 330
Airport Elevation 483
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12017
NTSB Notification Source ANC FAA, ROC
NTSB Notification Date Sep 23 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 25 2002 9:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Fairbanks FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3961D
NTSB Number ANC01LA134
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 34661
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Auburn Perkins
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City High Point
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27265
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Paul H. Kirby
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City North Pole
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99705
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 95Z
Departure City North Pole
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1020
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 95Z
Destination City North Pole
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jun 12 2002 3:13PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 15
Runway Length 3400
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --