# NTSB ANC96LA043: Cessna 180, N9600B, Big Lake, AK, April 5, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 5, 1996, 19:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Big Lake, AK - Coordinates: 61.460079, -150.090499 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4601&lon=-150.0905&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 1, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2815 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2815/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA043 ## Probable cause fuel starvation due to unporting of the fuel tank inlet, and the pilot's use of a steep, nose-low attitude during descent on the approach to land. The low level of fuel remaining was a related factor. ## 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 - weather condition - turbulence - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor) - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot/mechanic was performing a test flight to check the flight control rigging. During his approach for landing, the engine lost power. The pilot landed short of the runway threshold, but the airplane encountered a puddle of water, about 1 foot deep, and nosed over. The pilot stated that the airplane was low on fuel and was operating in rough/turbulent air. During his approach to land on the runway, he was using a steep, nose low attitude, when the engine lost power. The pilot believed that the fuel tank inlet became unported during the approach. The airplane was destroyed by an explosion and fire during recovery. ## Factual narrative On April 5, 1996, at 1910 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N9600B, registered to Roy and Diane Cunningham of Anchorage, Alaska, and operated by the pilot, experienced a power loss while on short final to the Big Lake Airport, Big Lake, Alaska. The airplane landed short of the runway and nosed over. The business flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Big Lake for a local test flight. The certificated commercial pilot, also a certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic, had performed maintenance on the airplane and was test flying the airplane to ensure proper flight control rigging. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage during the forced landing. During a telephone conversation with the pilot on April 6, 1996, he stated that he had 10 gallons of fuel in each fuel tank. During the approach he used carburetor heat, and while on final approach the engine stopped producing power. He did not have sufficient altitude to attempt a restart. He landed short of the runway's threshold and nosed over in a large puddle of water, which he estimated to be approximately 1 foot deep. The pilot described damage to both wings, the propeller, engine cowl, and vertical fin. The airplane was turned right side up and while sitting right side up the pilot described an explosion. The airplane was destroyed by the subsequent post accident fire. According to the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated the power loss was because of fuel exhaustion. He stated that he had a low fuel quantity and was operating in rough/turbulent air. During the approach he used a steep nose down pitch attitude and believes the fuel tank inlet became unported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9600B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9600B-2012-08-01), registration cancelled 2012-08-01, S/N 32897, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180a) (registry code 2072604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32897 - Airframe hours: 2960 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470K 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Bill J. Cranford - Registered owner: Raymond Cunningham - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BGQ - Airport: BGQ, Big Lake, runway 6, 2,700 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,500 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 20 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 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Temperature: 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 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 19960405006249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960405006249A), Apr 5, 1996: Cessna 180A, Big Lake, AK, Destroyed. Lost power on final. Landed short. Nosed over. Low fuel had unported. Placed plane upright. Exploded and burned. ## Other investigations on N9600B (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 ANC93LA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA187), Sep 20, 1993: Cessna 180A (N9600B), Charlie Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT DELAYED HIS DECISION TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, AND DID NOT FOLLOW THE STANDARD PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES FOR THE ABORTED TAKEOFF. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, AND… 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.