# NTSB ANC85FA027: Cessna 140, N77227, Wasilla, AK, December 10, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 10, 1984, 14:25 local (18:25 UTC)
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4391
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85FA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4391/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85FA027

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, go-around (vfr)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly - undetermined (cause)
  - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command(cfi)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

ON GO-AROUND DURING A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING OVER A DIRT LANDING STRIP ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND RUN ROUGH. PLT STATED POWER WAS REDUCED AND ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN SMOOTH. FUEL TANK WAS SWITCHED AND 15 TO 20 SECONDS LATER, ENGINE QUIT. FORCED LANDING WAS MADE INTO TREE TOPS. ACFT SETTLED ALMOST VERTICALLY THROUGH TREES COMING TO REST ON ITS NOSE. PLT STATED CARBURETOR HEAT WAS USED DURING THE SIMULATED EMERGENCY DESCENT. NO MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION COULD BE DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N77227](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N77227-2015-05-14), registration cancelled 2015-05-14, S/N 11689, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 140
- Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11689
- Airframe hours: 2018
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Randall E. Bauer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 8, 1984, 75 hours before
- Departed: Z16, WASILLA, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 750 total, 3 in this make and model, 560 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 12 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ANC, 10 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 19841210065589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841210065589A), Dec 10, 1984: Cessna 140, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Applied power after simulated engine failure and engine quit. Landed in tree tops.

## Other investigations on N77227 (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 WPR13CA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA033), Nov 2, 2012: Cessna 140 (N77227), Watsonville, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the landing roll.

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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