Cessna 172 accident near Chugiak, Alaska, June 6, 2017
On June 6, 2017 at about 2:00 am local time, a 1968 Cessna 172, registered N35700, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Chugiak, Alaska (Birchwood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2017 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Chugiak, Alaska · Birchwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 I, built 1968 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N35700 · registry record · serial 17256916
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, about 1 hour after takeoff on the personal flight, the engine started "sputtering" and then lost all power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and maneuvered the airplane for landing at a nearby airport. The airplane subsequently touched down in an open field, impacted a fence, and came to rest inverted in the grass, resulting in substantial damage. During recovery of the airplane, about 1 gallon of fuel was drained from the left wing and about 7.5 gallons of fuel were drained from the right wing. Examination revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine. The engine was satisfactorily test run several times during the examination. The fuel injector servo successfully passed a flow check and showed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. Various fuel samples from the airplane were tested and no water was detected. The pilot initially reported that the fuel selector valve was positioned at the left tank position when the engine started experiencing issues, but later reported that he was using the right tank position during the engine issues. Given the airplane's fuel state following the accident and the lack of anomalies found during postaccident examination, it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel starvation when the pilot exhausted the fuel supply of the left wing tank.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Fuel related during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Fuel starvation during enroute (cruise)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during enroute (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 180.8 hours in all; 165.3 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5.6 in the last 30 days; 88 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 4, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,874.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 11, 2017; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,299 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Engines IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 588 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AA06 Anchorage AK
- Destination: AA06 Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02L, 4,010 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 am from PABV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on October 9, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GPS Factual Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | GPS Google Earth File | map file | Download |
| 5 | GPS Raw Data File | spreadsheet | Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Engine Test Video (Courtesy of Cessna) | MOV file | Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.