# NTSB ANC01LA134: Cessna 182, N3961D, North Pole, AK, September 23, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 23, 2001, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: North Pole, AK - Coordinates: 64.765274, -147.389724 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7653&lon=-147.3897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53662 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53662/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA134 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power, due to contaminated fuel, during approach for landing. A factor associated with the accident was unsuitable terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The certificated commerical pilot was conducting skydiving operations in the vicinity of the accident airport. After the airplane climbed to about 11,500 feet msl, all three of the skydivers aboard exited the airplane, and the pilot began a descent to return to the departure airport. The pilot said that while on approach, all engine power was lost, and emergency engine procedures did not restore engine power. The airplane collided with trees and sustained extensive damage to the wings, and fuselage. A responding FAA inspector gathered a fuel sample from the accident airplane's carburetor float bowl. Laboratory analysis of the sample revealed the sample met the specifications for aviation fuel. Contaminates in the fuel sample consisted of vegetative material, dirt, sand, and wood pieces. ## Factual narrative 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 fuel sample met the specifications for aviation fuel. Analysis of the visible contaminates in the fuel sample revealed that the sample contained vegetative material, dirt, sand, and wood pieces. The pilot supplied a written statement, but did not submit a Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/20). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3961D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3961D-2014-10-06), registration cancelled 2014-10-06, S/N 34661, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182 - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34661 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 95Z, North Pole, AK - Destination: 95Z, North Pole, AK - Airport: 95Z, Bradley Sky-Ranch, runway 15, 3,400 × 80 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 520 total, 120 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010923025429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010923025429A), Sep 23, 2001: Cessna 182A, North Pole, AK, No damage. (-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… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.