# NTSB ANC91LA105: Cessna 182, N4944D, Girdwood, AK, July 22, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 21, 1991, 18:35 local (Jul 22, 1991, 02:35 UTC)
- Place: Girdwood, AK
- Coordinates: 60.89952, -148.910995 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8995&lon=-148.9110&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5584
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC91LA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5584/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA105

## Probable cause

IMPROPER IN FLIGHT PLANNING, FUEL STARVATION AND FUEL SUPPLY NOT UNDERSTOOD BY THE PILOT.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN.

## 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 - final approach
  - fuel system,tank - starvation (cause)
  - fuel supply - not understood, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT.  THE AIRPLANE CRASHED APPROXIMATELY 80 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY ON A DIRT SERVICE ROAD. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE LEFT FUEL TANK HAD ABOUT 6 TO 8 GALLONS OF FUEL, THE RIGHT TANK WAS EMPTY.  THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE RIGHT FUEL TANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4944D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4944D), registered now, S/N 51044, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 51044
- Airframe hours: 4292
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-L 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Tim Robel
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 12, 1991, 112 hours before
- Airport: ADY, Girdwood, runway 19, 2,100 × 80 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 600 total, 50 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19910721028819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910721028819A), Jul 21, 1991: Cessna 182A, Girdwood, AK, Substantial damage. Fuel starvation on final approach. Crash landed short of runway. Fuel selector on empty tank. Fuel in other tank.

## Other investigations on N4944D (3)

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 SEA90LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA092), Jun 2, 1990: Cessna 182A (N4944D), Tekoa, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT TURNED OFF THE CARBURETOR HEAT WHILE DESCENDING FOR LANDING IN CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING.
- [NTSB SEA87LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA87LA183), Sep 7, 1987: Cessna 182A (N4944D), Star, ID, minor damage
- [NTSB CHI70D0222](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI70D0222), Aug 15, 1969: Cessna 182 (N4944D), Comins, MI, 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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