# NTSB ANC97LA153: Cessna 185E, N70122, Wasilla, AK, September 21, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 21, 1997, 09:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Location: 61.6033° N, 149.3111° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from ANDERSON LAKE (0AK1), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6033&lon=-149.3111&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3071 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA153 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3071/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA153 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to water contaminated fuel, and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane. A factor associated with the accident was the 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(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - wire,transmission ## Analysis The pilot was planning to ferry his airplane from a private airstrip to a maintenance facility. The airplane's last annual inspection was in 1988. The airplane had not been flown since 1989. The pilot did not obtain a ferry permit. Prior to takeoff, the pilot drained water from the fuel tanks, and added several gallons of fuel to each tank. He then sloshed the fuel around in each tank, drained them, and then added full fuel to each tank. The pilot then performed two separate engine run-ups, and did not encounter any engine problem. The pilot departed the airstrip in an easterly direction and climbed to about 120 to 200 feet above the ground. The engine suddenly quit running, and the pilot selected an emergency landing area near a road. During the landing approach to the ground, the airplane collided with a power line and several trees. The right wing was torn from the fuselage. An FAA airworthiness inspector found a small amount of water in the left wing fuel drain, the header tank drain, and the gascolator drain. ## Factual narrative On September 21, 1997, about 0945 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Cessna 185E, N70122, crashed after takeoff from a private airstrip, about 4 miles northeast of Wasilla, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country ferry flight to Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 21, 1997, at 1130, the pilot reported the airplane's last annual inspection was July 29, 1988. The airplane had not been flown since 1989. The pilot was planning to ferry the airplane to Anchorage for maintenance from Anderson Lake Strip. The pilot did not obtain a ferry permit. Prior to takeoff, the pilot drained water from the fuel tanks, and added several gallons of fuel to each tank. He then sloshed the fuel around in each tank, drained them, and then added full fuel to each tank. The pilot then performed two separate engine run-ups, and did not encounter any engine problem. The pilot departed the airstrip in an easterly direction and climbed to about 120 to 200 feet above the ground. The engine suddenly quit running, and the pilot selected an emergency landing area near a road. During the landing approach to the ground, the airplane collided with a power line and several trees. The right wing was torn from the fuselage. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), inspected the airplane shortly after the accident, at the accident scene. He reported that a small amount of water was found in the left wing fuel drain, the header tank drain, and the gascolator drain. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70122](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70122-2020-09-04), registration cancelled 2020-09-04, S/N 18502004, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185E - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18502004 - Airframe hours: 3961 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: Darryl Kloepher - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 1988, 800 hours before - Departed: 0AK1 - Destination: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK - Airport: 0AK1, Anderson Lake Strip, runway 8, 2,200 × ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 880 total, 820 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 4 knots - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °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 19970921027739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970921027739A), Sep 21, 1997: Cessna A185E, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Crashed on takeoff, other circumstances are unknown. (.4)the pilot was planning to ferry his airplane from a private airstrip to a maintenance facility. The… ## Other investigations on N70122 (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 ANC89LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA052), Mar 9, 1989: Cessna 185E (N70122), Alexander Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING, DECISIONS WHICH RESULTED IN EXCEEDING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL AVAILABLE WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. 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.