20260818011219A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 180J · Bettles, AK · August 18, 2026

Date: August 18, 2026 · 19:30 local
Place: Bettles, AK
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: BVZC
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N9949N
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC26LA089
Reported as: Cessna 180J
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 10,639 total36 in this make and model276 in the last 90 days

N9949NRegistered now · Cessna 180JS/N 18052604 · Built 1975 Airframe modelCessna 180J Engine modelContinental O-470 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot was approximately 11 miles from the runway at 2300FT, 85KTS, when the engine started to sputter and lose power. Pilot switched the fuel valve from both to left tank and pulled the throttle back to the starting position, with no response. Pilot stated he had no time for a radio call, he added 20 degrees of flaps and aimed for the thinnest patch of trees. The aircraft came to a stop nose down and the pilot and two passengers exited the aircraft. The pilot estimated the flight had been approximately 4.7 hrs in duration and that they had suffered from fuel exhaustion.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT WAS APPROXIMATELY 11 MILES FROM THE RUNWAY AT 2300FT, 85KTS, WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER AND LOSE POWER. PILOT SWITCHED THE FUEL VALVE FROM BOTH TO LEFT TANK AND PULLED THE THROTTLE BACK TO THE STARTING POSITION, WITH NO RESPONSE. PILOT STATED HE HAD NO TIME FOR A RADIO CALL, HE ADDED 20 DEGREES OF FLAPS AND AIMED FOR THE THINNEST PATCH OF TREES. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP NOSE DOWN AND THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THE FLIGHT HAD BEEN APPROXIMATELY 4.7 HRS IN DURATION AND THAT THEY HAD SUFFERED FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC26LA089Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openBettles, AKAug 19, 2026 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N9949N · 2

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

Accident 20180815014219ALanding: Touchdown · Ambler, AKUpon landing in the kubuck sand dunes, the aircraft tipped up onto its left wing damaging the wing and tail. Pilot indicated that before landing, there appeared to be no wind and that he had landed in this area previously without issue.Aug 15, 2018 · Substantial damage Accident 19890522012179ATo Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) · Anchorage, AKUnable to leave water first try. Lifted late on second try. Unable to climb. Hit trees. Overloaded and unskilled.May 22, 1989 · Substantial damage