Aviation Crash Map

Cessna A185F N37BC

23 February 1993 · Fairbanks, Alaska, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 23 February 1993 at about 17:30 local time, a Cessna A185F registered N37BC, operated by Williamson, KEN R., 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 17:30
Classification
Accident
Location
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Nearest airport
Chena Marina
Coordinates
64.8107, -147.7190
Aircraft
Cessna A185F
Registration
N37BC
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Williamson, KEN R.
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ANC93LA039

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

THE FUEL SYSTEM SELECTOR VALVE BEING PLACED IN THE OFF POSITION DUE TO THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR PLACARD BY AN UNQUALIFIED PERSON. THE SNOW COVERED FORCED LANDING AREA WAS A FACTOR.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB OUT THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. THE PILOT EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE TURN AND LANDED ON THE UNPLOWED PORTION OF THE CHENA MARINA STRIP. AFTER THE LANDING AND DURING THE ROLL OUT THE ELEVATOR BALANCE TAB STRUCK A PIECE OF ICE AND IT WAS TORN IN HALF. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE SHOWED THAT THE FUEL VALVE PLACARD WAS REPLACED INCORRECTLY. WHEN THE FUEL VALVE WAS PLACED IN THE BOTH POSITION, AS REQUIRED FOR TAKEOFF, THE VALVE WAS ACTUALLY IN THE OFF POSITION. THE AIRPLANE HAD JUST RECEIVED A NEW INTERIOR WHICH HAD BEEN INSTALLED BY AN UNCERTIFICATED INDIVIDUAL. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT INSPECTED NOR WERE THERE ANY ENTRIES IN THE LOGBOOK SHOWING THE NEW UPHOLSTERY WORK.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna A185F accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
21 Jul 1993 Cessna A185F
N124KT
Denali Nat'l Pk, Alaska, United States James Okonek Serious injuries -
30 Nov 1993 Cessna A185F
N6613N
Maybell, Colorado, United States - No injuries -
30 Jan 1993 Cessna A185F
N5391R
Inglewood, Washington, United States Johnson, Everett H. No injuries -
23 Apr 1993 Cessna A185F
N5077G
Goose Bay, Alaska, United States Alaska Wing Civil Air Patrol No injuries -
31 May 1993 Cessna A185F
N333DG
Kahiltna Glacie, Alaska, United States Doug Geeting Aviation No injuries -
27 May 1993 Cessna A185F
N2215T
Bellevue, Washington, United States Lofgren, Loren R. No injuries -

All 377 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
4 Aug 1993 Piper PA-32R-300
N477JC
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19 Aug 1993 De Havilland DHC-3
N321KA
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31 Aug 1993 De Havilland DHC-2
N64273
Iliamna, Alaska, United States Rainbow King, Inc Fatal 3
2 Sep 1993 Piper PA-18A-150
N4713A
Sanona Creek, Alaska, United States Garfield, Wade E. Fatal 2
8 Sep 1993 Interstate S-1B2 ARCTIC TERN
N64AT
Talkeetna River, Alaska, United States Franklin, Gary L. Serious injuries -
11 Sep 1993 Cessna 180
N7541K
Cooper Landing, Alaska, United States Sixty-Thirty North Serious injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States