ANC95LA118

The pilot reported he was on a local pleasure flight and was aware the airplane was low on fuel. He said he was within five miles of his destination, and he planned to refuel there. He said the airplane lost engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and the airplane struck trees during the subsequent off-airport landing. Also, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented, if he had refueled sooner.

On July 30, 1995, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 172B airplane, N9192R, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during a forced landing approximately five miles south of North Pole, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot reported a minor injury; the three passengers aboard reported no injuries. The local, 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight departed Bradley Skyranch, North Pole, Alaska, about 1100.

During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on July 31, the pilot reported the airplane lost all engine power while in cruise flight at 2,600' msl. He said he made an off- airport landing and collided with trees. The pilot reported he was concerned about the quantity of fuel remaining in the airplane, and was intending a landing at Bradley Skyranch, approximately five miles distant, to refuel. He said the airplane ran out of fuel prior to reaching Bradley Skyranch, and he made a forced landing. The pilot said he examined the airplane after the accident, and could find no evidence of preimpact fuel leakage anywhere on the airplane. He said the fuel tanks were dry, and he thinks he may have encountered headwinds that increased his flying time, and the airplane used more fuel than he had planned for. The pilot does not believe there was any preimpact mechanical anomaly with the airplane.

In his written report to the NTSB, under the section: Recommendation (how this accident could have been prevented), the pilot wrote: "By adding more fuel and watching the weather closer."