Cessna 182K N2631R

Summary

On 1 June 2014 at about 21:15 local time, a Cessna 182K registered N2631R, operated by Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council, was involved in an accident near Galena, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 June 2014 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Galena, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Galena

Coordinates

64.7398, -156.8509

Aircraft

Cessna 182K

Registration

N2631R

Category

Airplane

Year built

1967

Engines

1

Operator

Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kaltag → Galena

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC14LA034

2 people had minor injuries.

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which necessitated a forced landing on unsuitable terrain, during which the airplane flipped over and became partially submerged in water.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting a cross-country flight to pick up and transport employees to a training class. After picking up all the employees, the pilot planned to make a fuel stop before continuing to the destination. The pilot reported that, as the airplane approached the airport and while flying level at 1,500 ft mean sea level, the engine began to run roughly and lose power. The pilot applied carburetor heat, but it had no effect. He then confirmed that the fuel selector was set to both and saw that the fuel totalizer indicated that about 22.8 gallons of fuel were remaining but that both fuel gauges were indicating near empty with little or no movement of the needles. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost all power, so the pilot chose to conduct a forced landing on a lake shoreline, during which the airplane flipped over, became partially submerged in water, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that at least five bladder fastening snaps in the left wing and three snaps in the right wing were unfastened; however, it could not be determined when the fuel bladder fasteners became unfastened; thus, it could not be determined if the bladder fastening snaps being unfastened led to the loss of engine power. Examination of the airplane revealed no other evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The atmospheric conditions that existed when the engine lost power were conducive to serious carburetor icing at cruise power settings.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.