Cessna 182 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, January 28, 1990
On January 28, 1990 at about 9:33 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N8849T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill Field). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OBSTRUCTIONS (UTILITY POLE, POWER LINE & FENCE) 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
- January 28, 1990 · about 9:33 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N8849T · no longer on the register · serial 52749
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE THE FLT, 15 GAL OF FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE ACFT TO BRING THE FUEL ON BOARD TO ABOUT 25 GAL. DUE TO SNOW ON THE GROUND, MORE FUEL THAN NORMAL WAS USED TO GET THE ACFT 'UNSTUCK.' THE ACFT WAS THEN FLOWN TO THE DESTN ARPT. WHILE ON A BASE LEG TO LAND, THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE ACFT STRUCK A UTILITY POLE, POWER LINE & A FENCE. AFTER THE ACDNT, APRX 2-3/4 GAL OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE ACFT. ABOUT 3-1/2 GAL OF THE FUEL SUPPLY WAS CONSIDERED TO BE USABLE IN LEVEL FLT ONLY.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,385 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 106 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 3,243 as pilot in command; 875 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,368 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1986; 354 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Chakachamna Lk AK at 6:42 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 6, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 9°F (-13°C), dew point 5°F (-15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:38 pm from MRI, 1 miles away
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 N8849T 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.