# NTSB ANC88LA049: Cessna 337D, N86128, Kenai, AK, April 23, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 23, 1988, 10:28 local (18:28 UTC)
- Place: Kenai, AK
- Coordinates: 60.659011, -150.899185 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6590&lon=-150.8992&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5001
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC88LA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5001/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88LA049

## 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 (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - aircraft performance,two or more engines - failure,total
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS PRACTICING SIMULATED INSTRUMENT FLIGHT WITH HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR IN THEIR MUTUALLY-OWNED AIRPLANE, WHEN BOTH ENGINES QUIT WITHIN MINUTES OF EACH OTHER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES IN THE ENSUING EMERGENCY DESCENT PRIOR TO REACHING THE SELECTED LANDING AREA AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NEITHER OF THE PILOTS WERE INJURED. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR HAD CONDUCTED THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, AND HAD VISUALLY INSPECTED THE FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO THE START OF THE FLIGHT, AND ALTHOUGH THE TANKS WERE LESS THAN FULL, HE FELT THAT A SUFFICIENT QUANTITY REMAINED FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT. BOTH PILOTS SAID THAT THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATED ONE-QUARTER FULL WHEN THE ENGINES STOPPED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N86128](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N86128-1989-03-08), registration cancelled 1989-03-08, S/N 3371089 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 337D
- Registry model: [Cessna 337D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-337d) (registry code 2075717) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3371089
- Airframe hours: 1662
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-C 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Lee, Gary E.
- Registered owner: Lee, Gary E
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 9, 1987, 43 hours before
- Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Airport: 8AK8, Swanson River

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 318 total, 158 in this make and model, 281 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ENA, 17 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 19880423010199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880423010199A), Apr 23, 1988: Cessna 337D, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on both engines on hooded practice instrument flight,struck trees. Pilot failed to assure fuel state

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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