# NTSB ANC93LA147: Cessna 185, N20752, Point Barrow, AK, August 14, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 13, 1993, 20:15 local (Aug 14, 1993, 04:15 UTC) - Place: Point Barrow, AK - Coordinates: 71.279762, -156.780761 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=71.2798&lon=-156.7808&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2406 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2406/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA147 ## Probable cause FUEL EXHAUSTION AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S NOT REFUELING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OPERATOR/MANAGEMENT INADEQUATE FLIGHT FOLLOWING AND OPERATIONAL CONTROL OVER THE FLIGHT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - procedure inadequate, company/operator management (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency ## Analysis A COMMERCIAL PILOT ON A POSITIONING FLIGHT EXPERIENCED A FUEL EXHAUSTION TOTAL POWER LOSS FOLLOWING AN ABRUPT CLIMB MANEUVER, AND LANDED ON THE TUNDRA. ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM BY FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINATION FOUND NO ANOMALIES. ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL WAS FOUND ON BOARD. WHEN LEVELED, THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY. FUEL SPILLED UNDER VENT WAS AN 18 INCH PUDDLE IN SATURATED TUNDRA. THE PART 135 OPERATOR KEPT NO FUEL RECORDS, OR FLIGHT FOLLOWING RECORDS FOR THE FLIGHT. ## Factual narrative On August 13, 1993, at 20:15 Alaska daylight time, a wheel- equipped Cessna A185F airplane, N20752, operating for Cape Smythe Air Service of Barrow, Alaska, experienced fuel exhaustion and the commercial pilot made a forced landing on the tundra. The accident location was approximately 53 miles southeast of Barrow. The flight was positioning under 14 CFR Part 91, following a Part 135 on-demand charter. Visual meteorological conditions existed and a VFR flight plan was on file. The pilot, as sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot told investigators that he was returning from an on- demand flight to a fish camp 53 miles from Barrow, having flown three legs, for about 1.6 hours on 70 gallons of fuel. He said that he executed an abrupt pull-up from 600 feet to 1100 feet, bleeding the airspeed to 70 knots when the engine quit, and would not restart. The restart procedures included a switch to the right tank, fuel boost pump, rich mixtures and starter engagement. FAA airworthiness and operations inspectors examined the aircraft and found no mechanical anomalies or fuel system water or debris. Residual fuel only was found in the tanks. The airplane was found resting on the left wing tip, having sheared the left main gear spring from the fuselage housing. Fuel spillage was measured to be an eighteen inch puddle in water filled tundra, beneath the left outboard overboard tank vent. When the airplane was jacked and shored to an upright and level flight position, the engine started and ran normally without interruption of power. No records were available to quantify the fuel uploaded in the the operator's airplanes. The operator stated that no such records were kept. The FAA inspector told the NTSB that FAA regulations did not require records to be kept of fueling at the operation. Company management also told investigators that he could not determine the departure time of the flight because those records were not kept on that particular flight. The flight originated at Barrow as a 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand air carrier flight and was returning under 14 CFR Part 91. Insofar as the flight was operating on the outbound leg under the requirements of Part 135, the certificate holder was required to keep on file "at least the information required to be included in a VFR flight plan." (Part 135.79) Pertinent information would have included fuel on board, time of departure and estimated time of arrival. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20752](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N20752), registered now, S/N 18503041, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18503041 - Airframe hours: 3262 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D24K 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Cape Smythe Air Service - Registered owner: Cape Smythe Air Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 31, 1993, 83 hours before - Departed: CHIP TWO CAMP, AK - Destination: BRW, BARROW, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,286 total, 47 in this make and model, 1,912 as pilot in command, 330 in the last 90 days, 122 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 6 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BRW ## 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 19930813029369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930813029369A), Aug 13, 1993: Cessna A185F, Point Barrow, AK, Substantial damage. During abrupt pullup engine quit. Landed in tundra. Appears low fuel unported. No time or fuel records kept per 135 ## Other investigations on N20752 (7) 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 ANC00LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA099), Aug 12, 2000: Cessna 185F (N20752), Barrow, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor in the accident was a hidden obstruction, and soft terrain. - [NTSB ANC97LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA131), Aug 25, 1997: Cessna 185F (N20752), Barrow, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in a ground swerve and damage to the airplane. A factor… - [NTSB ANC96LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA114), Aug 2, 1996: Cessna 185 (N20752), Wainwright, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive application of the brakes during the landing roll. - [NTSB ANC95LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA003), Oct 15, 1994: Cessna A185F (N20752), Kotzebue, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DISTANCE FROM THE TERRAIN (SNOW BANK). FLAT LIGHTING AND LOW CONTRAST CONDITIONS WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. - [NTSB ANC93LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA016), Nov 28, 1992: Cessna 185 (N20752), Point Hope, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE NO. TWO CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD DUE TO A SLIPPED (SPUN) MAIN CRANKSHAFT BEARING WHICH BLOCKED OFF THE OIL HOLE TO THE CONNECTING ROD. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE… - [NTSB ANC92LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA067), May 3, 1992: Cessna C-A185F (N20752), Barrow, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE IMPROPER USE OF THE FLT CONTROLS BY THE SECOND PILOT DURING LANDING ROLL. FACTORS RELATING TO THE MISHAP WERE THE ROUGH/UNEVEN SNOW COVERED TERRAIN. - [NTSB ANC89IA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89IA019), Nov 22, 1988: Cessna A185F (N20752), Deadhorse, AK, incident, no 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.