# NTSB ANC19LA006: Cessna 172, N2809L, Anchorage, AK, November 3, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 3, 2018, 09:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.215831, -149.841949 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2158&lon=-149.8419&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98597 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC19LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98597/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98597 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19LA006 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the landing flare, which resulted in the wing striking the runway. Contributing to the accident was a partial loss of engine power, which resulted from fuel contamination. ## 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 172H, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072424), [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. - [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the private pilot, shortly after departing for the local, personal flight and about 300 ft above ground level, the engine began losing power and running extremely roughly. He declared an emergency and was able to return to the departure airport for landing. During landing, the left wing impacted the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the outboard portion of the left wing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed large amounts of ice around the fuel caps and on the fuel cap vent, and a large amount of debris and water was drained from the carburetor bowl. Due to the amount of water found in the carburetor, it is likely that water entered the fuel system through the fuel caps and led to the partial loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On November 3, 2018, about 0940 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N2809L, sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing on runway 25 at Merrill Field (PAMR), Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 visual flight when the accident occurred. The private pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local area flight. The flight had departed PAMR about 0935. According to the pilot, on a previous flight, about 0900 the same day, when around 400 ft above ground level (AGL) during climbout, the engine began losing power and ran extremely rough. While in the traffic pattern, the engine was only able to produce about 1200 RPM. The pilot stated that he was able to return for an uneventful landing on runway 25. Following the event, the pilot sumped both fuel tanks and gascollator for containments, with none found. The pilot then completed a run-up with no anomalies and taxied for departure with the carburetor heat on. Upon reaching the run-up area, the pilot completed another run-up. With no anomalies occurring on either run-up, the pilot elected to depart for a flight around the traffic pattern. Just after departure from runway 25, and around 300 ft above ground level (AGL), the engine again began losing power and ran extremely rough. An emergency was declared and the pilot was able to return for landing. During landing, the left wing impacted the runway, resulting in substantial damage. After the second event, the airplane was parked outside where temperatures remained below freezing. On November 4, the airplane was examined by the NTSB Investigator-in-Charge. The fuel caps were found frozen in place due to a significant amount of water trapped in the recessed area. Upon removing the caps, ice was found on the vent flap and the filler neck was completely covered in corrosion. Corrosion particles were also located within the fuel tank. The gascolator was then drained and tested for water by use of a water finding paste. The fuel sample tested positive for water. Due to the cold outside temperatures, draining of the carburetor was delayed to allow for thawing of all potential ice in the fuel system. On November 12, the carburetor was removed from the airplane by Alaskan Aircraft Engines, an overhaul facility, for inspection. According to the inspection report, a large amount of debris and water were located within the carburetor bowl. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2809L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2809L), registered now, S/N 17256009, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17256009 - Year built: 1967 - Engines: Continental O-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MRI, Anchorage, AK - Destination: MRI, Anchorage, AK - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 25, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 29.48 inHg - Observed at: PAMR ## 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 20181103024959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181103024959A), Nov 3, 2018: Cessna 172H, Anchorage, AK, Minor damage. Pilot was preparing for a crosscountry earlier in the day when he experienced low power. He landed at merrill airfield without incident. He parked the aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98597. 2.6 MB in all. - Carburetor Inspection Report (item 1, .PDF, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477862&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Inspection%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 2, .PDF, 6 photos, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477863&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.