# NTSB ANC19LA040: Cessna 182, N3934D, Farewell, AK, July 24, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 23, 2019, 20:40 local (Jul 24, 2019, 04:40 UTC) - Place: Farewell, AK - Coordinates: 62.4775, -153.519729 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4775&lon=-153.5197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99940 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC19LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99940/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99940 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19LA040 ## Probable cause A reported partial loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined. ## 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); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during takeoff from a river gravel bar, as the airplane climbed out of ground effect, the headwind diminished, and he felt that the engine was “lagging” and that the airplane was not climbing as expected. The airplane descended into a grove of small trees at the end of the gravel bar, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the engine, airframe, and propeller revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and the reason for the reported partial loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 2019, about 2040 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 182 airplane, N3934D, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Farewell, Alaska. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, during takeoff from a river gravel bar, as the airplane climbed out of ground effect, the headwind diminished, and he felt that the engine was “lagging” and that the airplane was not climbing as expected. The airplane descended into a grove of small trees at the end of the gravel bar. The nose landing gear sheared off during impact and the airplane flipped over, sustaining damage to the left wing, right wing lift strut, vertical stabilizer, and fuselage. The pilot stated that he did not have time to attempt to restore power or secure the engine before impact. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the engine was intact and securely attached to the airframe with all fittings secure. The propeller was attached to the engine and the propeller blades were secure in the hub. Each blade exhibited span wise torsional s-bending and fractures at the outboard leading edges. Engine control continuity was established, and the magnetos functioned properly. The propeller rotated smoothly by hand. There was no debris in the fuel filter and the fuel selector moved appropriately through the detents. There were no pre-impact anomalies discovered during the examination that would have resulted in a partial loss of engine power after takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3934D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3934D-2021-10-30), registration cancelled 2021-10-30, S/N 34634, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34634 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 4330.5 - Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2019 - Destination: BCV, Birchwood, AK - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 24, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 501 total, 497 in this make and model, 472 as pilot in command, 87 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: PAFS, 40 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 20190723022949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190723022949A), Jul 23, 2019: Cessna 182A, Farewell, AK, Substantial damage. Engine lost power after takeoff, aircraft crashed at the end of the gravel bar into bushes resulting in the aircraft ending up on it's back sustaining… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99940. 10.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12242460&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20LA040%20Master%20_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (pilot) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12242480&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20pilot%20v2-Rel.pdf - NTSB examination summary (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12376582&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC19LA040%20Exam%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12242726&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template%202-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.