# NTSB ANC97LA044: Cessna 175, N9261B, Naknek, AK, April 1, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 31, 1997, 20:30 local (Apr 1, 1997, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Naknek, AK - Coordinates: 58.800148, -156.900146 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8001&lon=-156.9001&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2979 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2979/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA044 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane prior to fuel exhaustion. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation and planning by failing to obtain information about the out of service runway lighting, and the rough and uneven terrain at the forced landing site. ## 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 - downwind - airport facilities,runway edge lights - inoperative (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he returned to his departure airport due to deteriorating weather conditions. He departed in daylight conditions, but returned to the unattended field at nightfall. He flew over the runway several times, and attempted to turn on the runway lights by tuning his radio to the published frequency to activate the lights, and clicking his microphone key several times. The lights did not come on, and while in the traffic pattern, the airplane's engine lost all power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot said he was unable to glide to the runway, and landed in a vacant lot, causing substantial damage to the airplane. A review of the notices to airmen disclosed that the runway lights had been out of service for the preceding two months. ## Factual narrative On March 31, 1997, about 2030 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 175 airplane, N9261B, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing at the Naknek Airport, Naknek, Alaska. The private pilot and one passenger aboard were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight was returning to Naknek after an aborted flight to Anchorage, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on April 2, the pilot stated he and a friend were returning to Naknek after turning around due to poor weather conditions on a flight to Anchorage. The pilot said by the time they reached Naknek, it was nearly dark, and he attempted to turn the runway lights on by tuning his airplane's radio to 122.8 MHz. and depressing the microphone transmit key five times. He said he made several passes over the field, each time trying to activate the runway lights by depressing the transmit key. On the last attempt, he said he was on a left downwind for runway 32, about abeam the approach end, when the engine lost all power. He said he was unable to reach the runway, and landed on rough terrain near the approach end of runway 32. Postaccident inspection of the airplane by two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors who were in the area, discovered there was slightly less than one-half gallon of gasoline remaining in the right fuel tank, and none in the left. They found the cockpit fuel selector on the "BOTH" position. The FAA inspectors also checked the runway lights to see if they would function after tuning an aircraft radio to 122.8 MHz. and clicking the transmission key five times. The runway lights would not illuminate. A call was placed to the FAA Kenai Flight Service Station, and it was disclosed that the runway lights were placed out of service in January 1997 via a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). The pilot indicated in his written report to the NTSB that there was no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and that the cause of the accident was "fuel starvation." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9261B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9261B-2013-03-18), registration cancelled 2013-03-18, S/N 55061, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 175 - Registry model: [Cessna 175](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175) (registry code 2072502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 55061 - Airframe hours: 3409 - Engines: Continental GO-300 175 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald K. Stabenow - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 1997, 12 hours before - Departed: 5NK - Destination: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK - Airport: 5NK, Naknek, runway 32, 1,850 × 45 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,600 total, 300 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 360° at 25 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 16 °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 19970331006429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970331006429A), Mar 31, 1997: Cessna 175, Naknek, AK, Substantial damage. Returned due wx at anc. Near dark tried activaate rwy lights. Unable. Ran out of fuel. Crashed. Lights notamed out. 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.