# NTSB ANC20LA060: Cessna 180, N3186D, Fairbanks, AK, June 15, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 15, 2020, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.829444, -147.82943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8294&lon=-147.8294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 101443 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC20LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101443/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA060 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to utilize carburetor heat while flying in conditions conducive carburetor to icing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Ice/rain protection system: intake anti-ice, deice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis During landing, while at about 1,200 ft above ground level, the airplane’s engine lost all power. Subsequently, the airplane landed short of the lake on the land and came to rest nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. An FAA postaccident examination revealed that about 15.5 gallons of clean blue fuel was drained from the airplane, and that there was fuel in the firewall drain sump. It was noted that two small “pearls” of water were observed in the fuel collection cup. A picture supplied of the airplane after the accident showed that the carburetor heat was found not applied. The engine was test run and revealed no mechanical failure or malfunctions. The pilot reported that he did not recall if he had applied carburetor heat during the approach to land prior to the loss of engine power. The temperature and dew point were entered into a carburetor icing probability chart, which coincided with the "serious icing-glide power" category. ## Factual narrative On June 15, 2020, about 1030 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 180, N3186D, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, about 1,200 ft above ground level, the engine lost all power on approach to the float-pond at Fairbanks International Airport (FAI), Fairbanks, Alaska. He added that the propeller continued to windmill and that there were no unusual noises or notable changes. He then applied throttle to no effect, confirmed a full rich mixture, and focused on the landing. Subsequently, the float-equipped airplane landed short of the float-pond and came to rest nose down, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. All occupants were able to egress with no further incident. The pilot reported that he had departed from a lake about 190 miles away with 42 gallons of fuel onboard, and that at the time of the accident, the airplane had about 16 gallons of fuel remaining. He added that he did not recall if he had applied carburetor heat during the approach to land prior to the loss of engine power. A picture supplied of the airplane by the Airport Police and Fire showed that the carburetor heat was found not applied. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector examined the airplane after recovery and did not observe any abnormalities. He stated that about 15.5 gallons of “clean blue fuel” was drained from the airplane. He added that there was fuel in the firewall drain sump; and two small “pearls” of water were observed in the fuel collection cup. An external tank was installed on the airframe to provide a fuel source and a postaccident engine run revealed no anomalies. The weather observation station located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the temperature was 66.2°F and the dew point was 55.4°F. According to the carburetor icing-probability chart located in the FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, the accident flight would have been operating in conditions conducive to “serious icing in glide power.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3186D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3186D), registered now, S/N 31984, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31984 - Year built: 1955 - Airframe hours: 4480.91 - Engines: Continental O-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 12, 2020 - Departed: Twin Lakes, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FAI, Fairbanks Intl, runway Float Pond 20, 5,400 × 100 ft, water ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 21, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,501 total, 144 in this make and model, 1,501 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 inHg - Observed at: PAFA, 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 20200615011589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200615011589A), Jun 15, 2020: Cessna 180, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. The 1955 Cessna aircraft departed chandalar lake on June 15, 2020 for flight to Fairbanks international airport with three souls on board. The pilot stated… ## Other investigations on N3186D (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 ANC86LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86LA021), Dec 27, 1985: Cessna 180 (N3186D), Homer, AK, substantial damage 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.