Plane Crash List

Cessna 180G N4721U

14 March 1999 · Fairbanks, Alaska, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 14 March 1999 at about 22:28 local time, a Cessna 180G registered N4721U was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 22:28
Classification
Accident
Location
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Nearest airport
Fairbanks International (PAFA)
Coordinates
64.9004, -148.1592
Aircraft
Cessna 180G
Registration
N4721U
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ANC99LA033

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

Water contamination of the fuel supply, and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection to ensure all water was removed from the fuel supply. Factors in the accident were a wrinkle in the wing fuel tank bladder, and snow covered terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated commercial pilot pushed the airplane out of a hanger and sumped the wing fuel tanks. The airplane remained outside throughout the day while the ambient temperature warmed. No further sumping of the wing tanks was conducted. After departure, the pilot reduced the engine power to level the airplane at the airport traffic pattern altitude. The engine began to run rough, and the pilot began an emergency landing approach to a snow-covered airstrip located near the approach end of an asphalt runway. The engine roughness diminished, and the pilot was cleared to land on the larger asphalt runway. The engine then quit. The airplane touched down in an area of snow between the end of the small airstrip and the beginning of the asphalt runway. The airplane nosed over, and received damage to the vertical stabilizer, the rudder, and the left wing lift strut. An examination of the airplane revealed a wrinkle in the left wing fuel bladder, and 3 ounces of water in the gascolator.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 180 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
18 Aug 1999 Cessna 180
N4535B
Quebec, Canada
no coordinates
Frank G Riess No injuries -
14 Aug 1999 Cessna 180H
N7939V
Gillette, Wyoming, United States - No injuries -
23 Jan 1999 Cessna 180J
N52170
Granbury, Texas, United States - No injuries -
9 Jun 1999 Cessna 180J
N7560K
Palmer, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
10 May 1999 Cessna 180J
N59DW
Necedah, Wisconsin, United States Wisconsin DNR Minor injuries -
15 Jun 1999 Cessna 180A
N5218D
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
no coordinates
- Minor injuries -

All 2,729 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
2 May 1999 Piper PA-24-260
N8694P
Juneau, Alaska, United States - Fatal 2
24 May 1999 Stinson 108
N793C
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
no coordinates
Glenn A. Ferris Fatal 1
29 May 1999 De Havilland DHC 2 MK III
N30CC
Anchorage, Alaska, United States William A. Sego No injuries -
13 Mar 1999 Cessna 170B
N4387B
Palmer, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
30 May 1999 Piper PA-18
N8570C
Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States James T. Ables No injuries -
2 Jun 1999 Robinson R22
N1929T
Glennallen, Alaska, United States - No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States