# NTSB ANC85LA179: Cessna 207, N91157, Chuathbaluk, AK, September 18, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 18, 1985, 13:03 local (21:03 UTC)
- Place: Chuathbaluk, AK
- Coordinates: 61.200489, -158.599182 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2005&lon=-158.5992&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4567
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85LA179
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4567/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA179

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - company-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - fuel consumption calculations - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A RIVER AFTER AN ENG FAILURE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT DETERMINE EXACT FUEL QUANTITY PRIOR TO TAKEOFF DUE TO A BROKEN CAP ON RIGHT FUEL TANK. THE OPERATOR TOLD THE PLT TO FLY THE ACFT DESPITE HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE BROKEN FUEL CAP AND THE UNCERTAIN FUEL QUANTITY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91157](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N91157), registered now, S/N 20700096, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 207
- Registry model: [Cessna 207](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207) (registry code 2073602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20700096
- Airframe hours: 5417
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Ronald Peltola, doing business as Bush Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: Airparts, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 1984, 25 hours before
- Departed: RDV, RED DEVIL, AK
- Destination: ANI, ANIAK, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,451 total, 35 in this make and model, 27 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19850918048729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850918048729A), Sep 18, 1985: Cessna 207, Chuathbaluk, AK, Substantial damage. Landed in river after fuel was exhausted. Right filler cap broken. Unable to visually inspect quantity on preflight

## Other investigations on N91157 (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 CEN23LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA231), Jun 6, 2023: Cessna 207 (N91157), Harlingen, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper installation of the throttle control arm to the throttle control cable attachment end, which resulted in a failure of the control arm and a loss of engine power in flight.

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.