Cessna 207 accident near 44 NW Fairbanks, Alaska, July 11, 1989
On July 11, 1989 at about 1:45 am local time, a Cessna 207, registered N91052, was substantially damaged in an accident near 44 NW Fairbanks, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY, TURBULENCE, TAILWIND, TERRAIN CONDITIONS, AND TREES (WILLOWS) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1989 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- 44 NW Fairbanks, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 207 · all 207s on the register
- Registration
- N91052 · no longer on the register · serial 20700039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT BEFORE REACHING HIS DESTN, THE ENG LOST POWER OVER WOODED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. HE TURNED THE ACFT BACK TO LAND DOWNWIND ON A SANDBAR, BUT OVERSHOT & TOUCHED DOWN IN WILLOWS. HE STATED THAT EARLIER, HE HAD FULLY SVCD THE PLANE & FLOWN IT 1 HR. HE CALCULATED THERE WAS 4 HRS OF FUEL REMAINING & THE FLT SHOULD HAVE TAKEN ONLY 2 HRS & 40 MIN. DRAINING OF THE FUEL TANKS AFTER THE ACDNT REVEALED THERE WAS 5 GAL IN THE LEFT WING TANK & LESS THAN 1 PINT IN THE RGT TANK. ACCORDING TO THE FLT MANUAL, THIS LEFT ONLY 1.5 GAL OF USABLE FUEL. THE PLT RPRTD THERE WAS LIGHT TURBC DURING THE FLT. CALCULATIONS REVEALED THE ACFT NEEDED AN ADNL 5.4 GAL OF FUEL TO COMPLETE THE FLT.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,315 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FYU Fort Yukon AK at 7:05 pm
- Destination: FAI Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N91052 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.