# NTSB ANC26LA089: Cessna 180J, N9949N, Bettles, AK, August 19, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Investigation open
- Date: August 18, 2026, 19:30 local (Aug 19, 2026, 03:30 UTC)
- Place: Bettles, AK
- Coordinates: 66.917788, -151.58203 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.9178&lon=-151.5820&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203659
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26LA089
- Latest NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203659/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA089

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9949N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9949N), registered now, S/N 18052604, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180J
- Registry model: [Cessna 180J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180j) (registry code 2072622) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18052604
- Year built: 1975
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Departed: Bettles, AK
- Destination: Same as departure

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 8 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observed at: ABT, 1 nm away
- METAR: PABT 190053Z 21008G16KT 10SM SCT020 BKN038 BKN080 17/13 A2975 RMK SLP082 T01720133

## 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 20260818011219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260818011219A), Aug 18, 2026: Cessna 180J, Bettles, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot was approximately 11 miles from the runway at 2300FT, 85KTS, when the engine started to sputter and lose power. Pilot switched the fuel valve from both…

## Other investigations on N9949N (2)

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 GAA18CA492](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA492), Aug 15, 2018: Cessna 180 (N9949N), Ambler, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in the left wing and horizontal stabilizer striking the ground.
- [NTSB ANC89FA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89FA075), May 22, 1989: Cessna 180J (N9949N), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S POOR JUDGEMENT, AND HIS LACK OF INITIAL TRAINING (NONE) IN SEAPLANE OPERATIONS.

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.

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