# NTSB FTW98LA331: Cessna TU206G, N102AK, Midvale, UT, July 25, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 25, 1998, 10:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Midvale, UT - Coordinates: 40.619762, -111.899047 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6198&lon=-111.8990&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 12, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43259 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA331 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43259/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA331 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel management which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rising ## Analysis The pilot obtained a weather briefing and departed Chico, California, en route to Heber, Utah. When he was fourteen miles west of Heber, he encountered thunderstorms and rain. He contacted Salt Lake City Approach Control and was directed to descend to 5,500 feet and vectored towards the Salt Lake City Municipal Airport. Approximately 6 miles southeast of the airport, the engine lost power. He switched fuel tanks and tried to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. He made a forced landing on a rolling field surrounded by power lines. The airplane struck the ground and rolled approximately 100 to 125 feet uphill. The engine separated from the firewall, and a fire erupted between the engine and firewall that was quickly extinguished by the pilot. The airplane had received an annual inspection on July 20, 1998, at which time it was refueled. It did not fly again until the day of the accident. The pilot did not physically inspect the fuel tanks prior to his departure from Chico. ## Factual narrative On July 25, 1998, approximately 1015 mountain daylight time, a Cessna TU206G, N102AK, owned and operated by the pilot's company, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Midvale, Utah. The private pilot, the sole occupant onboard, was not injured. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Chico, California, at 0535 Pacific daylight time. According to the pilot's accident report, he obtained a weather briefing and departed Chico, California, en route to Heber, Utah. When he was fourteen miles west of Heber, he encountered thunderstorms and rain. He contacted Salt Lake City Approach Control and was directed to descend to 5,500 feet and was vectored towards the Salt Lake City Municipal Airport. Approximately 6 miles southeast of the airport, the engine lost power. He switched fuel tanks and tried to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. He made a forced landing on a rolling field surrounded by power lines. The airplane struck the ground and rolled approximately 100 to 125 feet uphill. The engine separated from the firewall, and a fire erupted between the engine and firewall. As the pilot exited the airplane, he grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out the fire. The airplane received an annual inspection on July 20, 1998, at which time it was refueled. It did not fly again until the day of the accident. The pilot said he "did not physically inspect" the fuel tanks prior to his departure from Chico. According to the salvage company that retrieved the airplane, there was no evidence of fuel in the left tank but "a couple of gallons" of fuel were found in the right tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: N102AK (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna TU206G - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20604116 - Airframe hours: 3002 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-M 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Carl D. Selkirk Ins. Agency - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 20, 1998 - Departed: CIC, CHICO, CA - Destination: 36U, HEBER CITY, UT - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 915 total, 415 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 4 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SLC, 13 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 19980725028369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980725028369A), Jul 25, 1998: Cessna TU206G, Midvale, UT, Substantial damage. On July 25, 1998, approximately 1015 mountain daylight time, a Cessna TU206G, N102AK, owned and operated by the pilots company, was substantially damaged… 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.