# NTSB ANC25LA078: Cessna U206C, N29110, Gulkana, AK, July 25, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 24, 2025, 16:30 local (Jul 25, 2025, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Gulkana, AK - Coordinates: 62.142637, -145.44946 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.1426&lon=-145.4495&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 9, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200630 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200630/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200630 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA078 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073332), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2073332), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna U206C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2073332), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while on short final, the engine lost all power. The pilot switched fuel tanks and activated the fuel boost pump; however, engine power was not restored. The airplane subsequently touched down about 100 ft short of the runway approach threshold and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and vertical stabilizer. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left fuel tank was empty, and the right fuel tank was full; no anomalies were discovered with the fuel selector. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The operator stated that the accident could have been prevented with the proper use of the prelanding checklist. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29110](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29110), registered now, S/N U206-1080, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA U206C - Registry model: [Cessna U206C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206c) (registry code 2073332) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U206-1080 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 11568 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F43B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 135 - Operator: Copper Valley Air Service LLC - Registered owner: Copper Valley Air Service LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 18, 2025, 13 hours before - Departed: GKN, Glennallen, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: GKN, Gulkana Airport, runway 33L, 2,300 × 60 ft, gravel - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 15, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,361 total, 309 in this make and model, 1,241 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: AGK, 1 nm away - METAR: PAGK 242353Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM FEW080 21/04 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP153 6//// T02060039 TSNO $ ## 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 20250724010269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250724010269A), Jul 24, 2025: Cessna U206C, Gulkana, AK, Substantial damage. The aircraft was returning to Gulkana Airport from dan creek airport. The pilot stated the engine lost power on final approach at which time they changed the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200630. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19590670&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA078%206120%20V2_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19590722&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA078%20Photos-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.