# Accident 19980906022819A: Cessna 140, Fairbanks, AK, September 6, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 6, 1998, 17:07 local time
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Airport: Fairbanks International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 64.9000° N, 148.1594° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.9000&lon=-148.1594&mi=10
- Aircraft: N81045, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81045-2014-11-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 140 (registry code 2071602, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 140
- Reported engine: CONT C8512
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 433 total, 262 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA140) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980906022819A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1998, AT 1707 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 140 AIRPLANE, N81045, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT NOSED OVER DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING SEVEN MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE FAIRBANKS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FAIRBANKS, ALASKA. THE PRIVATE PILOT OWNER AND THE SOLE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED CLEAR CREEK BUTTE, ALASKA, AT 1615, AND WAS RETURNING TO FAIRBANKS FROM A CAMPING TRIP. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT TOLD THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW ON SEPTEMBER 6, THAT WHILE IN CRUISE AT 1,500 FEET MSL, HE HEARD A "CLUNK" AND THE ENGINE RPM BEGAN TO DECREASE. HE STATED THAT APPLICATION OF CARBURETOR HEAT, AND CHANGING FUEL TANKS HAD NO EFFECT. THE ENGINE NOISE CONTINUED, AND ENGINE POWER CONTINUED TO DECREASE. THE PILOT NOTIFIED THE FAIRBANKS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER OF HIS EMERGENCY, MADE A FORCED LANDING IN TUNDRA, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. (.4) WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT THE PILOT HEARD A 'CLUNK' AND ENGINE RPM IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO DECREASE. THE ENGINE NOI SE AND RPM DECREASE CONTINUED, THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN TUNDRA, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE EXHAUST VALVE STEM OF THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER HAD SEPARATED, AND THE VALVE WAS INGESTED INTO THE CYLINDER. THE ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED 4,555 HOURS SINCE NEW, AND 1,089 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC98LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA140), Sep 7, 1998: Cessna 140 (N81045), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to an in-flight fracture of an engine exhaust valve stem assembly. A factor associated with the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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