What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On September 5, 2001, pilot filled the float-equipped Cessna 180 tanks with fuel at pike lake in iliamna, Alaska. The pilot departed to lake clark. The weather in lake clark pass was marginal with heavy rain. At about 1230, pilot took off from lake clark to anderson lake. Pilot was 5-6 miles from big lake at approximately 2:00 pm and the engine started to sputter. The engine re-started a couple of times. Pilot noticed the fuel selector was set at right tank. Pilot switched fuel indicator to both tanks. The engine quit. No carb heat was applied. Pilot was 800' AGL over big lake. With not much time to react, the pilot landed in the first available spot, a 400' beaver pond. After landing, he noticed damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. Pilot and passenger received no injuries. A helicopter was used to retrieve the aircraft. The pilot who is also a certificated mechanic later replaced the leading edge of the stabilizer. privacy data omitted
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2001, PILOT FILLED THE FLOAT-EQUIPPED CESSNA 180 TANKS WITH FUEL AT PIKE LAKE IN ILIAMNA, ALASKA. THE PILOT DEPARTED TO LAKE CLARK. THE WEATHER IN LAKE CLARK PASS WAS MARGINAL WITH HEAVY RAIN. AT ABOUT 1230, PILOT TOOK OFF FROM LAKE CLARK TO ANDERSON LAKE. PILOT WAS 5-6 MILES FROM BIG LAKE AT APPROXIMATELY 2:00 PM AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER. THE ENGINE RE-STARTED A COUPLE OF TIMES. PILOT NOTICED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS SET AT RIGHT TANK. PILOT SWITCHED FUEL INDICATOR TO BOTH TANKS. THE ENGINE QUIT. NO CARB HEAT WAS APPLIED. PILOT WAS 800' AGL OVER BIG LAKE. WITH NOT MUCH TIME TO REACT, THE PILOT LANDED IN THE FIRST AVAILABLE SPOT, A 400' BEAVER POND. AFTER LANDING, HE NOTICED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED NO INJURIES. A HELICOPTER WAS USED TO RETRIEVE THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT WHO IS ALSO A CERTIFICATED MECHANIC LATER REPLACED THE LEADING EDGE OF THE STABILIZER. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.