Amateur-built CCK-1865 accident near Sterling, Alaska, May 12, 2023
On May 12, 2023 at about 1:30 am local time, a 2015 amateur-built CCK-1865, registered N3151, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Sterling, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2023 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Sterling, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CCK-1865, built 2015
- Registration
- N3151 · registry record · serial CCK-1865-0106
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an interview, the non-certificated pilot reported that he departed from a private airstrip without conducting a preflight inspection and was unaware of how much fuel was in the airplane. After departure the engine lost all power. The pilot turned the airplane back to the airstrip but did not have the altitude, and subsequently the airplane impacted trees along a road. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and empennage during the accident sequence. The non-certificated pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During recovery of the airplane the non-certificated pilot reported that there was no fuel in either fuel tank and he suspected the airplane ran out of fuel.
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 exhaustion during initial climb defining event
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not serviced/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 14, 2022
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Esci 0340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from PAEN, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAEN 120153Z 22006KT 10SM SCT060 OVC100 12/01 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP118 T01170006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.