# NTSB ANC96LA134: Cessna 180, N8241V, Port Alsworth, AK, August 30, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 30, 1996, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Port Alsworth, AK - Coordinates: 60.200721, -154.279022 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.2007&lon=-154.2790&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2889 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2889/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA134 ## Probable cause The fuel starvation caused by the unporting of the right fuel tank, and the pilot's inadequate preflight by not dipping the fuel tank to ensure sufficient fuel quantity to prevent the unporting. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - weather condition - turbulence - fuel system - starvation (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - swampy ## Analysis The pilot had landed at a field site to pick up two passengers. After the landing, he drained the fuel from the left fuel tank to store for future use. The operator stated this is their normal practice, and as a result, operate the airplanes with the fuel selector valve in the right fuel tank position. When the airplane was approximately 5 minutes from the destination, the engine stopped producing power. The airplane landed and nosed over. Subsequent examination showed that the right fuel tank contained 7.3 gallons of usable fuel and the left fuel tank contained 3.1 gallons of usable fuel. The engine was started and it operated normally. The passengers stated the pilot did not dip the fuel tank prior to departure and that the return flight was turbulent. ## Factual narrative On August 30, 1996, at 1530 Alaska daylight time a wheel equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N8241V, registered to and operated by Lake Clark Air Inc., experienced a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing while en route from the Mulchatna River to Port Alsworth, Alaska. The air taxi flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 135, departed the Mulchatna River area with two hunters on board. The destination was Port Alsworth. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured, one passenger sustained serious injuries and one passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. According to the passengers' statements, the pilot drained approximately 50 gallons of fuel from the airplane after landing. They said the pilot drained the left fuel tank dry. The operator stated that the airplane holds 84 gallons of fuel. It is their practice that upon reaching a field site, they drain the left fuel tank and store the fuel for future use. As a result, the company practice is to operate the airplane's fuel selector valve in the right fuel tank position. According to the passengers, the pilot did not dip the fuel tank prior to departure. They stated that he did not give them a passenger briefing prior to departure. The passengers indicated that the flight was turbulent. While in cruise flight, and 5 minutes from the destination, the airplane's engine stopped producing power. The propeller continued to windmill during the descent. The pilot indicated on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that he applied carburetor heat, pushed the mixture full rich, pushed the throttle full forward, and placed the fuel selector in the "both" position. He landed the airplane and during the landing roll the airplane "flipped" over. Subsequent examination of the airplane on September 4, 1996, by Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office Inspector, Mr. Gerald Martelli, showed that with the airplane in a level attitude there was only 7/16 of an inch of fuel covering the bottom of the right fuel tank. The fuel was drained from the right fuel tank through the gascolator. A total of 7.3 gallons of fuel was drained. The left fuel tank was drained through the gascolator and it yielded 3.1 gallons of fuel. The fuel was returned to their respective tanks and the engine was started. The engine started and operated normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8241V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8241V), registered now, S/N 18051743, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18051743 - Airframe hours: 9357 - Engines: Continental O-470-R25 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Lake Clark Air Inc. - Registered owner: Glen & Jean Alsworth - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 20, 1996, 36 hours before - Departed: MULCHATNA RIVER, AK - Destination: 5NW, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,630 total, 20 in this make and model, 2,850 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °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 19960830029869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960830029869A), Aug 30, 1996: Cessna 180H, Port Alsworth, AK, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Right tank empty low fuel in other. Had drained fuel left tank for storage. Failed check other 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.