# NTSB ANC97LA077: Cessna 180, N24EJ, Shaktoolik, AK, May 21, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 21, 1997, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Shaktoolik, AK - Coordinates: 64.359962, -161.20935 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.3600&lon=-161.2094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3009 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3009/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA077 ## Probable cause loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Ditching, emergency landing ## Analysis The pilot was conducting fish spotting flights in a remote area. He was circling to the left about 600 feet above the water when the engine coughed several times and then lost power. The pilot switched fuel tanks several times, but the engine did not restart. He landed (ditched) the airplane in the water about 50 yards from the beach. After touchdown, the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported the left fuel tank was indicating 1/3 and the right tank was near empty. After recovery, the left tank contained 15 gallons of fuel, and the right tank contained 5 gallons of fuel. The pilot estimated he still had 1 and 1/2 hours of fuel on board, and had operated the airplane with the fuel selector in the 'BOTH' position. The airplane's engine had accrued about 30 hours since being overhauled. An examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunction. ## Factual narrative On May 21, 1997, about 0930 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Cessna 180, N24EJ, ditched in the ocean about 10 miles west of Shaktoolik, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area business flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Shaktoolik airport, about 0910. On May 27, 1997, at 1018, the pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), that he was conducting fish spotting flights in the Cape Denbigh, Alaska, area. While spotting fish, the pilot was circling to the left. He was about 600 feet above the water when the engine coughed several times and then quit. The pilot switched fuel tanks several times but the engine did not restart. He performed a landing into the water about 50 yards from the beach. After touchdown, the airplane nosed over. The pilot indicated he last fueled the airplane before departure from Unalakleet, Alaska, about 0500 but had landed twice at Shaktoolik during the morning flights. The pilot reported the airplane contained about 22 gallons of fuel when he departed on the accident flight. The left fuel tank was indicating 1/3 and the right tank was near empty. The pilot estimated he still had 1 and 1/2 hours of fuel on board, and operated the airplane fuel selector in the "BOTH" position. The airplane's engine had accrued about 30 hours since being overhauled. The pilot reported the weather conditions in the area were scattered cloud conditions at 600 feet, 1,000 feet broken. The temperature was about 35 degrees F. Numerous rain showers were moving through the area. The visibility was about 20 miles. The wind was from the southwest about 15 knots with gust to 20 knots. The airplane's fuel system consists of two rubberized bladder fuel cells, one in each wing. Fuel flows by gravity through a fuel selector, fuel strainer, and then to the carburetor. The engine does not have a mechanical or electrical fuel pump. Following the accident, the pilot sold the airplane to a new owner. The new owner recovered the airplane from the ocean, and reported the fuel selector was found in the "BOTH" position. The carburetor heat control was in the "ON" position. The throttle, mixture, and propeller controls were full forward. About 15 gallons of fuel was drained from the left fuel tank, and about 5 gallons was drained from the right tank. Fuel was found in the gascolator, carburetor bowl, and carburetor accelerator pump. On June 4, 1997, the engine was examined at John/Mark Air Repair, Birchwood, Alaska. Gear and valve train continuity was established upon hand rotation of the engine crankshaft. The oil screen was free of contaminants. The oil pump housing, and internal gears were free of contaminants, and rotated. The magnetos had been removed from the engine, and upon hand rotation, both produced spark from all towers. The carburetor's fuel inlet screen exhibited slight evidence of corrosion, but was free of contaminants. The carburetor metal floats were undamaged. Examination of the interior of the carburetor airbox, and venturi, revealed a blackened appearance, and evidence of slight sooting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24EJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24EJ-2017-06-30), registration cancelled 2017-06-30, S/N 30593, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30593 - Airframe hours: 5142 - Engines: Continental O-470-J 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: James M. Edson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 1996, 80 hours before - Departed: 38A ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,034 total, 248 in this make and model, 1,961 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken - Temperature: 36 °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 19970521012879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970521012879A), May 21, 1997: Cessna 180, Shaktoolik, AK, Substantial damage. Fish spotting. Engine quit. Ditched in ocean 10 mi offshore. Nosed over cause power loss not determined. 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.