# NTSB ANC90LA033: Cessna 172, N4305L, Fairbanks, AK, February 15, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 15, 1990, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Coordinates: 64.769973, -147.330856 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7700&lon=-147.3309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5338
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90LA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5338/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA033

## Probable cause

WATER (OR ICE) CONTAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL, AND AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS:  SNOW COVERED TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## Analysis

RPRTDLY, THE ACFT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 3 TO 4 MONTHS WITH THE FUEL TANKS EMPTY. WHEN IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY FLOWN, THE ENG BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH & WOULD NOT SUSTAIN FLT. DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN DEEP SNOW, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND, BUT ABOUT ONE OUNCE OF WATER WAS FOUND IN THE GASCOLATOR. A MECHANIC NOTED THAT AT SOME TIME BEFORE THE FLT, HE ATTEMPTED TO DRAIN THE FUEL SUMPS, BUT THEY WOULD NOT DRAIN (AS THOUGH FROZEN).

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4305L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4305L), registered now, S/N 17254374 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172-54374
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Glynn E. Behrend
- Registered owner: Glynn E Behrend
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ENN, NENANA, AK
- Destination: NORTH POLE, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 633 total, 580 in this make and model, 614 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19900215002979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900215002979A), Feb 15, 1990: Cessna 172G, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Engine surged and later failed. Crash landed in deep snow. Found water in fuel.

## Other investigations on N4305L (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 OAK67D0169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK67D0169), Sep 16, 1966: Cessna 172 (N4305L), San Carlos, CA, substantial damage

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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