# NTSB ANC83FA141: Camair 480, N231, Anchorage, AK, August 10, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 1983, 13:39 local (21:39 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.219974, -149.850692 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2200&lon=-149.8507&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4048
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83FA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4048/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83FA141

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base turn
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel supply - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
  - fuel supply - reduced, pilot in command
  - aircraft performance,two or more engines - inoperative
- Forced landing, landing
- Gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear - overload

## Analysis

AFTER ABOUT 1 HR OF FLT TIME, BOTH ENGS OF THE ACFT LOST POWER AS THE PLT WAS ON A BASE LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR A LANDING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY & THE GEAR COLLAPSED WHILE HE WAS LANDING SHORT OF THE RWY. REPORTEDLY, THE LEFT ENG HAD LOST ALL POWER, BUT THE RIGHT ENG WAS STILL AT 1500 TO 1600 RPM WHEN THE PLANE CRASHED. THE PLT SAID THAT THE MAIN FUEL SELECTORS WERE POSITIONED TO THE MAIN TANK & THE BOOST PUMPS WERE ON. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE MAIN TANK WAS EMPTY. THE LEFT & RIGHT TIP TANKS CONTAINED 8 & 10 GAL OF FUEL, RESPECTIVELY. WATER WAS FOUND IN FUEL SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE TIP TANKS & IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N231 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Camair Aircraft Corp. 480
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1-067
- Airframe hours: 1662
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-D 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Frederick Patterson Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PAQ, PALMER, AK
- Airport: ANC, Anchorage, runway 32, 10,496 × 150 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 11,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Observed at: ANC, 5 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 19830810043529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830810043529A), Aug 10, 1983: Camair 480, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed during emergency landing on airport. Engines quit during approach.

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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