# NTSB ANC91LA047: Cessna 180F, N2117Z, Yukon River, AK, April 4, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 4, 1991, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Yukon River, AK
- Coordinates: 65.499473, -150.15039 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.4995&lon=-150.1504&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5534
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC91LA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5534/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=5534
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA047

## Probable cause

A CARBURETOR FUEL LEAK DUE TO INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fuel system,carburetor - leak (cause)
  - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN BACKFIRING AND WOULD ONLY PRODUCE IDLE POWER. HE WAS FORCED TO LAND ON THE FROZEN YOKON RIVER AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR FLOAT BOWL DRAIN PLUG WAS NOT INSTALLED AND COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THE AIRPLANE HAD RECEIVED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION ONLY 1.5 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME EARLIER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2117Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2117Z), registered now, S/N 18051217, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180F
- Registry model: [Cessna 180F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180f) (registry code 2072614) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18051217
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James E. Carner
- Registered owner: James E. Carner
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 8, 1991, 1 hours before
- Departed: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK
- Destination: RMP, RAMPART, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 40,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 28,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Temperature: 19 °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 19910404009129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910404009129A), Apr 4, 1991: Cessna 180F, Fairbankser, AK, Substantial damage. Engine backfired,lost power. Nosed over landing in deep snow on frozen river. Carburetor bowl drain plug missing.

## Other investigations on N2117Z (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 ANC03LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA103), Aug 26, 2003: Cessna 180 (N2117Z), Nenana, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane prior to fuel exhaustion, which resulted in a loss of engine power and a forced landing in unsuitable terrain.

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 16, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=5534. 1.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 550 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482518&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Materials Laboratory - Email (item 2, .PDF, 170 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482519&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%20-%20Email-Master.PDF
- Photos (item 3, .PDF, 4 photos, 991 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482520&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF
- Damage Determination (item 4, .PDF, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482521&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Damage%20Determination-Master.PDF

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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