# Accident 20010923025429A: Cessna 182A, North Pole, AK, September 23, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 23, 2001, 11:00 local time
- Place: North Pole, AK
- Airport: Bradley Sky-Ranch
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 64.7653° N, 147.3897° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7653&lon=-147.3897&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3961D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3961D-2014-10-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 182A (registry code 2072704, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182A
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC01LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA134) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010923025429A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON FINAL TO BRADLEY AIR FIELD THE PILOT NOTIFIED BRADLY AIR TRAFFIC OF HIS INTENTIONS. ALL ENGINE INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL. AT APPROXIMATELY 1100 FEET THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY PUSHED ALL ENGINE CONTROLS FORWARD AND SET THE AIRCRAFT FOR BEST GLIDE. THE PILOT CHECKED THE FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH FOR THE PROPER POSITION AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE PILOT TRIED THE IGNITION SWITCH ON LEFT AND RIGHT MAG THEN BACK TO BOTH WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE ENGINE. TRIED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT IT JUST TURNED OVER AND DID NOT START. PILOT COULD NOT MAKE THE RUNWAY AND LANDED IN A FIELD WITH NO INJURIES AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2001, ABOUT 1100 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL-EQUIPPED CESSNA 182 AIRPLANE, N3961D, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A FORCED LANDING, WHILE ON APPROACH TO LAND AT THE BRADLEY SKY-RANCH AIRPORT, NORTH POLE, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) BUSINESS FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL                                                          CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE ACCIDENT AIRPORT, ABOUT 1020. A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR FROM THE FAIRBANKS, ALASKA, FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE, TRAVELED TO THE ACCIDENT SCENE ON SEPTEMBER 23. THE FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE, AND INTERVIEWED THE ACCIDENT PILOT. ACCORDING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR, THE ACCIDENT PILOT RELATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING UTILIZED TO SUPPORT SKYDIVING OPERATIONS IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPORT. THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER CLIMBING THE AIRPLANE TO ABOUT 11,500 FEET MSL, AND AFTER ALL THREE OF THE SKYDIVERS ABOARD EXITED THE AIRPLANE, HE BEGAN HIS DESCENT TO RETURN TO THE BRADLEY SKY-RANCH AIRPORT. THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE ON APPROACH TO RUNWAY 15, ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST, AND THAT EMERGENCY ENGINE PROCEDURES DID NOT RESTORE ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT SELECTED A FORCED LANDING AREA THAT CONTAINED TREES. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES, AND SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE WINGS AND FUSELAGE. THE FAA INSPECTOR OBTAINED ABOUT ONE CUP OF FUEL FROM THE CARBURETOR FLOAT BOWL. THE FUEL SAMPLE WAS SENT TO A LABORATORY IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, FOR EXAMINATION AND TESTING.

## 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 ANC01LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA134), Sep 23, 2001: Cessna 182 (N3961D), North Pole, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power, due to contaminated fuel, during approach for landing. A factor associated with the accident was unsuitable terrain.

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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