# Accident 20030731037149A: Cessna 207, Anchorage, AK, July 31, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 31, 2003, 20:13 local time
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: ERGA
- Location: 61.2000° N, 149.8333° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2000&lon=-149.8333&mi=10
- Aircraft: N29CF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29CF-2018-02-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 207 (registry code 2073602, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 207
- Reported engine: CONT IO520F
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,997 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC03LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA085) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030731037149A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JULY 31, 2003, ABOUT 2013 LOCAL TIME, A CESSNA 207 AIRPLANE, N29CF, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND CONCRETE EMBANKMENT DURING A FORCED LANDING AT A FOOTBALL STADIUM COMPLEX IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED BY SPERNAK AIRWAYS INC., OF ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, AS AN ON-DEMAND PASSENGER FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 135, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. OF THE FOUR PEOPLE ABOARD, THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES, AND THE REMAINING PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VMC PREVAILED, AND VFR COMPANY FLIGHT FOLLOWING PROCEDURES WERE IN EFFECT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT BELUGA AIRPORT, TYONEK, ALASKA, ABOUT 1945 LOCAL TIME, AND WAS ENROUTE TO MERRILL FIELD, ANCHORAGE. SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT, AND WAS VIDEOTAPED BY A LOCAL NEWS CREW. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO BREACH OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED 30 GALLONS OF 100LL AVGAS IN THE LEFT FUEL CELL, 3 QUARTS OF 100LL AVGAS IN THE RIGHT WING, 1 PINT OF 100LL IN THE RIGHT HEADER TANK. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY FUEL CONTAMINATION.IN AN INTERVIEW ON AUGUST 7, 2003, BRIAN MASON, THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF N29CF AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, ADMITTED TO NEVER CHANGING THE FUEL SELECTOR POSITION FROM THE RIGHT TANK AFTER THE ENGINE FAILED. ALTHOUGH, HE DID CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE SELECTOR WAS ON THE RIGHT TANK. SPERNAK AIRWAYS, INC., UNOFFICIAL POLICY WAS TO OPERATE ON THE RIGHT TANK UNDER MOST CONDITIONS. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE FROM N29CF CONDUCTED BY THE NTSB AND OBSERVED BY THE FAA REVEALED NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES. THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT THE PILOT IN COMMAND RAN THE RIGHT TANK DRY, FAILED TO SWITCH TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK, WHICH CONTAINED 30 GALLONS OF FUEL, AND WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING.

## 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 ANC03LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA085), Aug 1, 2003: Cessna 207 (N29CF), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's incorrect positioning of the fuel tank selector valve to a nearly empty tank, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, and subsequent emergency landing at an…

## Other reports on N29CF (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19940328023439I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940328023439I), Mar 28, 1994: Cessna 207 (N29CF), Anchorage, AK, Minor damage. Rough engine slight power loss. Elected land in 2 feet wet snow. Private strip. Tore off nose gear. No engine informa
- [Incident 19860803059449I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860803059449I), Aug 3, 1986: Cessna 207 (N29CF), Anchorage, AK. Engine ran rough and pilot was unable to maintain altitude. Landed on a road. Rocker shaft bosses broken.

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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