# Accident 20260818011219A: Cessna 180J, Bettles, AK, August 18, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 18, 2026, 19:30 local time
- Place: Bettles, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: BVZC
- Location: 66.9178° N, 151.5820° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.9178&lon=-151.5820&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9949N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9949N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 180J (registry code 2072622, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180J
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 10,639 total, 36 in this make and model, 276 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC26LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA089) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260818011219A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 ANC26LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA089), Aug 19, 2026: Cessna 180J (N9949N), Bettles, AK, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

## Other reports on N9949N (2)

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

- [Accident 20180815014219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180815014219A), Aug 15, 2018: Cessna 180J (N9949N), Ambler, AK, Substantial damage. Upon 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…
- [Accident 19890522012179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890522012179A), May 22, 1989: Cessna 180J (N9949N), Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Unable to leave water first try. Lifted late on second try. Unable to climb. Hit trees. Overloaded and unskilled.

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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