# NTSB ANC99LA151: Cessna 172, N5309R, Galena, AK, September 24, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 23, 1999, 22:05 local (Sep 24, 1999, 06:05 UTC) - Place: Galena, AK - Coordinates: 64.739135, -156.849166 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7391&lon=-156.8492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 47538 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47538/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA151 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to refuel, and the resulting fuel exhaustion. A factor was the dark night which hampered location of a nearby closed, and unlit, airstrip. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The commercial pilot closed his flight plan, stating that the airport was in sight. The pilot of a departing airplane told the NTSB investigator that the accident pilot transmitted he was 'five miles out for landing, followed by 'I'm three miles out, just ran out of fuel at 1,000 feet, and am going to try to land on a road or the closed airstrip.' The pilot said he was unable to reach the closed airstrip, it was dark, and the airplane landed in the trees. The pilot said he thought he departed with a full fuel load of 39 gallons (38 gallons usable), but did not visually confirm the tanks were topped off after the lineman from a Fixed Base Operator filled the airplane's tanks. He said the flight lasted 4 hours 37 minutes. The cruise performance charts for a Cessna 172 with an O-300 engine predict fuel consumption at 2,400 rpm between 8.1 and 9.2 gallons per hour. ## Factual narrative On September 23, 1999, at 2205 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N5309R, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing about three nautical miles northeast of the Edward G. Pitka, Sr. Airport, Galena, Alaska, at 64 degrees 44.17 minutes north latitude, 156 degrees 56.24 minutes west longitude. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. The remaining passenger received minor injuries. The business flight was operated by Arctic Camps and Equipment, of Anchorage, Alaska, under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Merrill Field in Anchorage about 1745 for Galena. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The pilot contacted the Fairbanks Flight Service Station (FSS) at 2155 and closed his flight plan, stating to the Flight Service Specialist that the Galena airport was in sight. He then communicated on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) with the pilot of an airplane departing runway 25. The pilot of the departing airplane told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) during a telephone interview on September 24, that the accident pilot transmitted he was "five miles out for landing." This was followed by "I'm three miles out, just ran out of fuel at 1,000 feet, and am going to try to land on a road or the closed airstrip." The pilot told the IIC, during a telephone interview on September 24, that he thought he departed with a full fuel load of 39 gallons (38 gallons usable), but did not visually confirm the tanks were topped off after the lineman from a Fixed Base Operator filled the airplane's tanks. He said he flew to the New Wasilla Airport, Wasilla, Alaska, and picked up his two passengers. The pilot stated he then flew to Rainy Pass and Puntilla Lakes, Alaska, and found Rainy Pass was closed due to weather. He rerouted through Ptarmigan Pass, to Farewell, Alaska, and on to Galena. He described closing his flight plan when five miles from the airport, and said the airplane ran out of gas three miles from the runway. He attempted to land at a closed airstrip, but it was dark, and the airplane landed in the trees. The pilot said the flight lasted 4 hours 37 minutes. The cruise performance charts for a Cessna 172 with an O-300 engine predict fuel consumption at 2,400 rpm between 8.1 and 9.2 gallons per hour. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5309R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5309R-2003-06-19), registration cancelled 2003-06-19, S/N 17252831, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17252831 - Airframe hours: 4024 - Engines: Continental O-300D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arctic Camps And Equipment - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 26, 1999, 53 hours before - Departed: IYS, NEW WASILLA, AK - Destination: GAL - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,500 total, 500 in this make and model, 4,500 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 260° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GAL, 4 nm away ## 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 19990923026969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990923026969A), Sep 23, 1999: Cessna 172F, Galena, AK, Substantial damage. (.19) On September 23, 1999, at 2205 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N5309R, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing about three… ## Other investigations on N5309R (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 ANC66D0080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC66D0080), Jan 2, 1966: Cessna 172F (N5309R), Palmer, AK, 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.