# NTSB ANC19CA003: Cessna 207, N6492H, Anchorage, AK, October 11, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 11, 2018, 12:50 local (20:50 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.251667, -149.963882 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2517&lon=-149.9639&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98508 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC19CA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98508/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98508 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19CA003 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent loss of engine power, and her subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees during the approach to land at a nearby airstrip. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while on a visual approach at 700 ft, the airplane lost all engine power. The pilot immediately recognized that the selected fuel tank was empty because she had forgotten to switch fuel tanks during the flight. She attempted to restore engine power by selecting the other fuel tank, which did have fuel remaining, and activating the auxiliary fuel pump. Partial engine power was restored, and the pilot decided to land at a nearby private airstrip. During the approach, the right wing struck a tree. The pilot continued the landing, and during the landing roll, the nosewheel contacted soft gravel, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, while on a visual approach at 700 feet, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot immediately recognized that the selected fuel tank was empty because she had forgotten to switch fuel tanks during the flight. She attempted to restore engine power by selecting the other fuel tank, which did have fuel remaining, and activating the auxiliary fuel pump. Partial engine power was restored, and the pilot decided to land at a nearby private airstrip. During the approach, the airplane's right wing struck a tree, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot continued the landing and during the landing roll, the nose wheel contacted soft gravel and the nose gear collapsed, resulting in impact with terrain and substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6492H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6492H), registered now, S/N 20700544, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 207 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20700544 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 29303.4 - Engines: Continental IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 28, 2018, 97.3 hours before - Departed: 9AK3, Tyonek, AK - Destination: MRI, Anchorage, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 6AK2, Sleepers Strip, runway 06, 1,600 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 20, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: PAMR, 4 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 20181011019729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181011019729A), Oct 11, 2018: Cessna 207A, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot was at 700 feet elivation. Pilot had fuel selected to right tank. Engine lost power. Pilot selected left tank and attempted restart. Pilot made an… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98508. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 968 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477102&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Record of Conversation (Allsup) (item 2, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477103&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Allsup)-Master.PDF - Passenger Record of Conversation (Munson) (item 3, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477104&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Munson)-Master.PDF - Photographs (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477105&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photographs-Master.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.