# NTSB ANC05LA053: Cessna 140, N2204N, Denali Park, AK, March 30, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 30, 2005, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Denali Park, AK - Coordinates: 63.652778, -148.902221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6528&lon=-148.9022&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61248 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05LA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61248/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA053 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during takeoff and cruise flight for an undetermined reason, which resulted in an emergency descent/landing, and collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - roll/run - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - Nose over, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The solo private pilot stated that prior to the 14 CFR Part 91, personal cross-country flight, he preheated the airplane engine prior to takeoff. During the takeoff roll the engine started running rough. The pilot said he applied carburetor heat and continued the takeoff because there was not enough runway left to stop. The engine lost all power about 5 miles south of the airport, and during the ensuing emergency forced landing, the left wing struck a tree. The airplane came to rest inverted in a creek. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane, but he suspected ice in a gas line, or restricted airflow to the carburetor from fresh snow, or possibly a stuck valve. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage during the accident. ## Factual narrative On March 30, 2005, about 1000 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 140 airplane, N2204N, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees during an emergency descent and landing, following a total loss of engine power about 5 miles south of the Denali National Park Airport, Denali National Park, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight departed the Denali National Park Airport about 1000. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on March 31, the park ranger who spoke with the pilot said the pilot told him the airplane started running rough during the takeoff roll. The pilot said he applied carburetor heat and continued the takeoff, and about 5 miles south of the airport the engine quit. The pilot said while attempting an emergency landing in a snow-covered meadow, the airplane's left wing struck a tree, and the airplane came to rest inverted in a creek. In a written statement to the NTSB the pilot wrote that the airplane was preheated before the flight, and ran fine until three-quarters of the way down the runway. He said there was not enough runway remaining to stop, so he applied carburetor heat and continued. He said the engine would not produce more than 1200 rpm, and eventually quit. He wrote that he suspected ice in a gas line, or restricted airflow to the carburetor from fresh snow, or possibly a stuck valve. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2204N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2204N), registered now, S/N 12440, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12440 - Airframe hours: 1240 - Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Christopher Ho - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2005, 60 hours before - Departed: INR, Denali National, AK - Destination: PABE, Bethel, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 250 total, 15 in this make and model, 230 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 10 °F ## 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 20050330006399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050330006399A), Mar 30, 2005: Cessna 140, Denali Park, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 30, 2005 about 1040 Alaska standard time a Cessna 140 airplane, N2204N, sustained substantial damage when it impactd trees during an emergency… ## Other investigations on N2204N (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 ANC73DAG13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC73DAG13), Jul 30, 1972: Cessna 140 (N2204N), Willow, AK, substantial damage 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.