# NTSB ANC87MA057: Cessna 402, N967JW, Anchorage, AK, April 2, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: April 1, 1987, 21:30 local (Apr 2, 1987, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.199951, -149.820648 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2000&lon=-149.8206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4932
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC87MA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4932/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87MA057

## 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
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - inattentive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - airspeed(vmc) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON THE LAST LEG OF A SCHEDULED COMMUTER FLIGHT, WHEN IT CRASHED IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA WHILE MAKING A VFR APPROACH TO MERRILL FIELD, ANCHORAGE, AK. THE CAPT AND HIS SOLE PASSENGER WERE KILLED IN THE CRASH WHEN THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND UPSIDE-DOWN IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE'S COPILOT, WHO HAD DEPLANED MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, SAID HE DID NOT SEE THE CAPT USE THE AIRCRAFT'S AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS AT ANY TIME DURING THAT EVENING'S EARLIER FLIGHTS. THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN FUEL TANKS HOLD 100 GALLONS OF USEABLE FUEL; IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WOULD HAVE CONSUMED SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 100 GALLONS OF FUEL AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. AMPLE FUEL REMAINED IN THE AUXILIARY TANKS, BUT AN ENGINE RESTART CANNOT BE READILY ACCOMPLISHED IF THE AUXILIARY TANKS ARE NOT SELECTED PRIOR TO THE ENGINE'S QUITTING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N967JW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N967JW-1990-09-12), registration cancelled 1990-09-12, S/N 4020067 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402
- Registry model: [Cessna 402](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402) (registry code 207590K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4020067
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-E 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Wilbur'S Flight Operations
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 1987, 92 hours before
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: MRI, Merrill, runway 24, 4,000 × 100 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,577 total, 210 in this make and model, 3,400 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 60° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MRI, 1 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 19870401008219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870401008219A), Apr 1, 1987: Cessna 402CESSNA, Anchorage, AK, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Crashed on approach to airport. Hit trees in a near vertical position. Possible fuel starvation and VMC procedure.

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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