# NTSB ANC26LA007: Danchini Aero Danchini Cub, N794AK, Wasilla, AK, November 24, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 24, 2025, 14:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Coordinates: 61.639084, -149.26704 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6391&lon=-149.2670&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 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): 202049 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202049/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202049 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA007 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, and inadequate inflight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and subsequent forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Junior Daniel DANCHINI CUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05641VN), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Junior Daniel DANCHINI CUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=05641VN), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Junior Daniel DANCHINI CUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05641VN), [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 starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Junior Daniel DANCHINI CUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05641VN), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Junior Daniel DANCHINI CUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05641VN), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that prior to takeoff he moved the fuel selector valve from left fuel tank to the both position. Shortly after takeoff the engine lost all power, unable to return to the runway the pilot performed a forced landing onto a road. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. After the accident, the pilot realized he mistook the fuel selector handle for the indicator and misinterpreted the position the fuel selector was in. He had actually turned the fuel to the off position prior to takeoff, not the both position as he believed he had. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N794AK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N794AK), registered now, S/N 001, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Danchini Aero Danchini Cub - Registry model: [Junior Daniel DANCHINI CUB](https://openairdocs.org/model/junior-daniel-danchini-cub) (registry code 05641VN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-340-series) (registry code 41510, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Year built: 2021 - Engines: Aero Recip O-340 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Flying Dutchman LLC - Registered owner: Flying Dutchman LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Airport: 4AK6, Wolf Lake, runway 08/26, 3,800 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 12, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,565 total, 68 in this make and model, 5,420 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: AWS, 9 nm away - METAR: METAR PAWS 242256Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M09/M11 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP161 T10941111 FZRANO ## 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 20251124016369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251124016369A), Nov 24, 2025: Junior Daniel DANCHINI CUB, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot got in the airplane and turned the fuel selector inadvertently to the "off" position thinking he turned the fuel selector to "both". Upon take off the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202049. 14.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20526640&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20accident%20report_Redacted-Rel-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20315804&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20MOR%20ANC26LA008_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20255618&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Video file (item 4, MOV, 10.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20297443&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=Video-Rel.MOV 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.