# NTSB ANC12CA050: Walls Craig C Snowyriver Special, N207CW, Chugiak, AK, June 3, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 3, 2012, 09:09 local (17:09 UTC) - Place: Chugiak, AK - Coordinates: 61.392223, -149.466949 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3922&lon=-149.4669&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83934 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83934/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83934 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA050 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power during descent. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Walls Craig C SNOWYRIVER SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=05630TA), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Walls Craig C SNOWYRIVER SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05630TA), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Walls Craig C SNOWYRIVER SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05630TA), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Walls Craig C SNOWYRIVER SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05630TA), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Walls Craig C SNOWYRIVER SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05630TA), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed with an estimated 5 gallons of fuel, and had begun his descent to his destination airport when the engine lost all power. He established best glide speed and made a forced landing to an open stretch of road. The airplane touched down hard, spun 180 degrees, and came to rest in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated that there was very little fuel found in the fuel tanks during recovery of the wreckage and that he believes he may have run out of fuel. ## Factual narrative The private pilot departed with an estimated 5 gallons of fuel, and had begun his descent to his destination airport, when all engine power was lost. He established best glide speed, and made a forced landing to an open stretch of road. The airplane touchdown hard, spun 180 degrees, and came to rest in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board, investigator-in-charge on June 15, the pilot stated there was very little fuel found in the fuel tanks during recovery of the wreckage, and he believes he may have run out of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N207CW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N207CW), registered now, S/N 001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WALLS CRAIG C SNOWYRIVER SPECIAL - Registry model: [Walls Craig C SNOWYRIVER SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/walls-craig-c-snowyriver-special) (registry code 05630TA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A4A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a4a) (registry code 42270, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 81 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 13, 2011 - Departed: PAMR, Anchorage, AK - Destination: BCV, Birchwood, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 26, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 194 total, 81 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,900 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PABV, 2 nm away ## 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 20120603015489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120603015489A), Jun 3, 2012: Walls Craig C SNOWYRIVER SPECIAL, Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. 06/03/2012 - PIC departed merrill field airport (pamr) at approx. 0910 ast on a 14 CFR part 91 flight intending to land at Birchwood Airport (pabv). Aircraft… ## Other investigations on N207CW (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 ANC14CA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA015), Feb 6, 2014: Craig C Walls Snowyriver Special (N207CW), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after landing, resulting in a nose over. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83934. 709 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 674 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372812&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372813&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Redacted.PDF 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.