# Accident 20191231017659A: Cessna 170B, Fairbanks, AK, December 31, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 31, 2019, 22:00 local time
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 64.6669° N, 148.1333° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.6669&lon=-148.1333&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4667C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4667C-2022-06-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 170B (registry code 2072306, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C145 series (registry code 17012, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,100 total, 250 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC20CA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA011) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191231017659A

## Narrative

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

12/31/2019 0950L AIRCRAFT CALLED FAI TOWER ATC IN THE BLIND THEY CRASHED 10 S/W OF THE AIRPORT. 2 POB; NO INJURIES. SAR WAS LAUNCHED FROM PAFB TO RESCUE PILOT AND PASSENGER, DELIVER TO PAFA.

METAR AT PAFA 010553Z 36004 8SM ?SN OVC011 M19/M22 A2894.

DESCRIPTION AS COMMUNICATED IN INTERVIEW WITH AIRMAN: SKI?EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT DEPARTED 95Z EARLIER IN DAY WITH 28 GALS OF FUEL (DIP STICK) FOR LAKE FISHING TRIP APPRX. 1 HR FLYING TIME. FORECAST AT DEPARTURE TIME WAS FOR LOWERING CONDITIONS AROUND MIDNIGHT.

DEPARTING LAKE IN AFTERNOON, AIRMAN ENCOUNTERED AIRFRAME ICING AND RETURNED TO LAKE. WHILE ORBITING LAKE, AIRMAN COMMUNICATED WITH FAI FSS ON AIRCRAFT RADIO FOR CURRENT WEATHER ENROUTE AND FORECAST. LOWER CONDITIONS THAN FORECAST PREVAILED. AIRMAN ELECTED TO LAND ON LAKE AGAIN AND SPEND THE NIGHT IN CABIN, BUT AFTER BREAKING TRAIL TO CABIN DISCOVERED ROOF CAVED IN - DIDN?T THINK IT WOULD BE SUITABLE, AND SO DEPARTED IN AIRCRAFT WITH THE INTENTION OF LANDING AT NENANA AIRPORT.

UPON REACHING NENANA, PILOT CONTROLLED LIGHTING (PCL) WAS INOPERATIVE, AND ACCORDING TO AIRMAN, RUNWAY WAS UNLIGHTED. (AFD INDICATED AIRPORT WAS MANNED, AND RUNWAY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE 24 HRS. NOTAM INDICATED RUNWAY EDGE LIGHTS INOPERATIVE WITH RUNWAY END LIGHTS AND PAPI LIGHTS OPERATIVE. COMMUNICATION WITH THE NENANA AIRPORT MANAGER REVEALED AIRPORT WAS NOT STAFFED, RUNWAY NOT MAINTAINED, AFD WAS INCORRECT). AIRMAN ELECTED NOT TO LAND AT UNLIGHTED RUNWAY (WITNESS SAW AIRCRAFT CIRCLING CITY CENTER IN DARK AND MARGINAL CONDITIONS).

APPROXIMATELY 10 SM S/W OF PAFA, WITH CITY LIGHTS IN VIEW, ENGINE QUIT. AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN PARTIAL CLEARING AND FLIPPED ON BACK.

TOTAL FLIGHT TIME WAS ABOUT 3 HOURS. AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ORIGIN WITH TRIP FUEL PLUS @ 1 HOUR. DIVERSION DUE WEATHER, AND INOPERATIVE RUNWAY LIGHTS CONTRIBUTED TO FUEL EXHAUSTION PRIOR TRIP COMPLETION.

DURING THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION, THE AIRMAN CONFIRMED HE DID NOT HOLD A CURRENT AIRMAN MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OF ANY CLASS AS REQUIRED BY CFR §61.23(A)(3), NOR HAD HE RECEIVED A FLIGHT REVIEW IN VIOLATION OF CFR §61.56(C).

## 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 ANC20CA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA011), Jan 1, 2020: Cessna 170 (N4667C), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, an emergency off-airport landing, and a nose over.

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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