Cessna 172 accident near Anvik, Alaska, January 15, 1995
On January 15, 1995 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6867X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anvik, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE IN THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK CONCERNING THE UNEVEN DISTRIBUTION OF FUEL, AND STARVATION OF THE FUEL INTAKE LINE BY UNPORTING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 1995 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Anvik, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6867X · no longer on the register · serial 17247767
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FUELED THE AIRPLANE FROM PLASTIC FUEL CONTAINERS AND THEN DID NOT DRAIN THE FUEL SUMPS. THE AIRPLANE HAD A SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE FOR THE USE OF AUTO FUEL AND WAS USING AUTO FUEL. DURING THE FLIGHT THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE WAS 'RUNNING LOW' WHILE THE RIGHT FUEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING FULL EVEN THOUGH THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE BOTH POSITION. HE SLIPPED THE AIRPLANE TRYING TO MAKE THE FUEL MOVE TO THE LEFT TANK. THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER WHILE HE WAS IN A SLIP. HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE PRIOR TO LANDING IN DEEP SNOW ON THE BONSILLA RIVER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1994; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NUL Nulato AK at 5:00 pm
- Destination: Kako Mine AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: -9°F (-23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N6867X 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.