# NTSB ANC96TA016: Cessna 182H, N1997X, Koyuk, AK, November 28, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: November 28, 1995, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Koyuk, AK - Coordinates: 64.939712, -161.149063 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.9397&lon=-161.1491&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2918 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96TA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2918/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96TA016 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed application of carburetor heat. Factors in the accident were carburetor icing conditions and lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - carburetor heat - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system,carburetor - ice - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - aircraft parked/standing - object - fence post ## Analysis The certificated airline transport pilot reported that he planned a flight to a remote village to conduct a census survey if the weather permitted. While en route, the pilot experienced clear icing conditions and freezing rain at 6,500 feet mean sea level (MSL). He climbed above the conditions to 8,500 feet msl. A layer of stratus clouds initially obscured the village but after passing the village, he noticed that the runway was visible and then made a rapid, low power descent for landing. The airplane entered a left base for landing and the pilot applied carburetor heat about 500 feet above the ground. The engine suddenly lost 80 to 100 percent of power. The pilot performed an emergency landing on an airport access road that paralleled the runway, but was unable to stop the airplane before it collided with a wooden post and a parked airplane. The pilot reported that the cloud cover was consistent with a narrow temperature/dew point spread. ## Factual narrative On November 28, 1995, about 1500 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 182H, N1997X, collided with a parked airplane during a forced landing at Koyuk, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country government flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to the pilot and operated on official business by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, was destroyed. The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Galena airport, Galena, Alaska at 1410. The pilot reported that he planned a flight to Nome, Alaska, and a landing at Koyuk to conduct a census survey if the weather permitted. While en route, the pilot experienced clear icing conditions and freezing rain at 6,500 feet mean sea level (MSL). He climbed above the conditions to 8,500 feet msl. Due to a low layer of stratus clouds, the pilot initially overflew Koyuk but noticed that the runway was visible. He then made a rapid, low power descent for landing on runway 36. The pilot entered a left base for landing and applied carburetor heat about 500 feet above the ground. The engine suddenly lost 80 to 100 percent of power. The pilot performed an emergency landing on the airport access road that paralleled runway 36, but was unable to stop the airplane before it collided with a wooden post and a parked Piper PA-18 airplane, N2719M. At 1415, an automated weather observation station (AWOS) located at Koyuk was reporting in part: Sky condition and ceiling, measured 600 feet overcast; visibility, 10 miles; temperature, 11 degrees F; dew point temperature, -11 degrees F; wind, 070 degrees at 3 knots; altimeter, 30.09 inHg. The pilot reported that Nome was reporting a temperature of 18 degrees F, with a dew point of 16 degrees F, and the cloud cover was consistent with a narrow temperature/dew point spread. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1997X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1997X-2011-06-03), registration cancelled 2011-06-03, S/N 18256097, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182H - Registry model: [Cessna 182H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182h) (registry code 2072718) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18256097 - Airframe hours: 5565 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Operator: U.S. Bureau Of The Census - Registered owner: John W. Dailey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 1995, 200 hours before - Departed: GAL, GALENA, AK - Destination: KKA - Airport: KKA, Koyuk ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 11,500 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 10 °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 19951128039089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951128039089A), Nov 28, 1995: Cessna 182H, Koyuk, AK, Destroyed. Engine quit on final after long descent. Struck parked plane short of runway failed to use carburetor heat. ## Other investigations on N1997X (2) 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 ANC89LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA072), May 18, 1989: Cessna 182H (N1997X), White Mountain, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY, WHICH WAS CLOSED. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE SNOW CRUSTED RUNWAY. - [NTSB OAK70D0012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK70D0012), May 30, 1969: Cessna 182 (N1997X), Concord, CA, 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. --- 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.