# NTSB ANC14LA034: Cessna 182K, N2631R, Galena, AK, June 1, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 1, 2014, 13:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Galena, AK - Coordinates: 64.739822, -156.85086 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7398&lon=-156.8509&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 89339 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC14LA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89339/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89339 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14LA034 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which necessitated a forced landing on unsuitable terrain, during which the airplane flipped over and became partially submerged in water. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a cross-country flight to pick up and transport employees to a training class. After picking up all the employees, the pilot planned to make a fuel stop before continuing to the destination. The pilot reported that, as the airplane approached the airport and while flying level at 1,500 ft mean sea level, the engine began to run roughly and lose power. The pilot applied carburetor heat, but it had no effect. He then confirmed that the fuel selector was set to both and saw that the fuel totalizer indicated that about 22.8 gallons of fuel were remaining but that both fuel gauges were indicating near empty with little or no movement of the needles. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost all power, so the pilot chose to conduct a forced landing on a lake shoreline, during which the airplane flipped over, became partially submerged in water, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that at least five bladder fastening snaps in the left wing and three snaps in the right wing were unfastened; however, it could not be determined when the fuel bladder fasteners became unfastened; thus, it could not be determined if the bladder fastening snaps being unfastened led to the loss of engine power. Examination of the airplane revealed no other evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The atmospheric conditions that existed when the engine lost power were conducive to serious carburetor icing at cruise power settings. ## Factual narrative On June 1, 2014, about 1315 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 182K airplane, N2631R, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Galena, Alaska. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries, and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to pick up three employees from two remote locations to transport them to Fairbanks, Alaska, so they could attend a training class. After departing Fairbanks International Airport (FAI), Fairbanks, he flew to the two locations and picked up the three employees uneventfully. The flight then departed Kaltag, Alaska, destined for Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL), Galena, Alaska, for a planned fuel stop before returning to FAI. The pilot reported that, as the airplane approached GAL and while flying level at 1,500 ft mean sea level, the engine began to run roughly and lose power. The pilot applied carburetor heat, but it had no effect. He then confirmed that the fuel selector was set to both and saw that the fuel totalizer indicated that about 22.8 gallons of fuel were remaining. However, both fuel gauges were indicating near empty with little or no movement of the needles. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost all power, so he chose to conduct a forced landing on a lake shoreline, during which the airplane flipped over, became partially submerged in water, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The wreckage was recovered about 1.5 months after the accident. Examination of the wing fuel bladders revealed that at least five bladder fastening snaps in the left wing and three snaps in the right wing were unfastened; however, it could not be determined if the bladder fastening snaps became unfastened before or during the accident or during the wreckage recovery. Examination of the airplane revealed no other evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. According to the Federal Aviation Administration carburetor icing probability chart, the temperature and dew point when the engine lost power, were conducive to the accumulation of serious icing at cruise power settings. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2631R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2631R-2018-03-13), registration cancelled 2018-03-13, S/N 18258331, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182K - Registry model: [Cessna 182K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182k) (registry code 2072724) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18258331 - Year built: 1967 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council - Registered owner: Iksgiza Air Service LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KAL, Kaltag, AK - Destination: GAL, Galena, AK - Airport: Galena ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 750 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: GAL, 25 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 20140601008979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140601008979A), Jun 1, 2014: Cessna 182K, Galena, AK, Substantial damage. Ptrs #201402030 NTSB #anc 14 l a 034 While cruising at 1500' MSL the aircraft engine began to run rough, lose power, and subsequently quit. Prior to complete… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 31, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89339. 4.3 MB in all. - Record of conversation (pilot) (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11631686&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC14LA034%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20Document%20(Pilot)%20N2631R-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11631789&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=034%20Photo%20Array-Rel.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.