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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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April 2, 1987 · Cessna 402 · N967JW

Anchorage, AK

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 2, 1987
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Anchorage, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 402
Tail Number
N967JW
Operator
Wilbur S
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC87MA057

THE ACFT WAS ON THE LAST LEG OF A SCHEDULED COMMUTER FLIGHT, WHEN IT CRASHED IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA WHILE MAKING A VFR APPROACH TO MERRILL FIELD, ANCHORAGE, AK. THE CAPT AND HIS SOLE PASSENGER WERE KILLED IN THE CRASH WHEN THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND UPSIDE-DOWN IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE'S COPILOT, WHO HAD DEPLANED MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, SAID HE DID NOT SEE THE CAPT USE THE AIRCRAFT'S AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS AT ANY TIME DURING THAT EVENING'S EARLIER FLIGHTS. THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN FUEL TANKS HOLD 100 GALLONS OF USEABLE FUEL; IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WOULD HAVE CONSUMED SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 100 GALLONS OF FUEL AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. AMPLE FUEL REMAINED IN THE AUXILIARY TANKS, BUT AN ENGINE RESTART CANNOT BE READILY ACCOMPLISHED IF THE AUXILIARY TANKS ARE NOT SELECTED PRIOR TO THE ENGINE'S QUITTING.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT WAS ON THE LAST LEG OF A SCHEDULED COMMUTER FLIGHT, WHEN IT CRASHED IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA WHILE MAKING A VFR APPROACH TO MERRILL FIELD, ANCHORAGE, AK. THE CAPT AND HIS SOLE PASSENGER WERE KILLED IN THE CRASH WHEN THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND UPSIDE-DOWN IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE'S COPILOT, WHO HAD DEPLANED MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, SAID HE DID NOT SEE THE CAPT USE THE AIRCRAFT'S AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS AT ANY TIME DURING THAT EVENING'S EARLIER FLIGHTS. THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN FUEL TANKS HOLD 100 GALLONS OF USEABLE FUEL; IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WOULD HAVE CONSUMED SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 100 GALLONS OF FUEL AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. AMPLE FUEL REMAINED IN THE AUXILIARY TANKS, BUT AN ENGINE RESTART CANNOT BE READILY ACCOMPLISHED IF THE AUXILIARY TANKS ARE NOT SELECTED PRIOR TO THE ENGINE'S QUITTING.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 AKST
Nearest AirportMERRILL (1nm SE)
Runway24
Runway Length4000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 402
Tail NumberN967JW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWilbur S
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520-E · Reciprocating · 300
Seats10

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 55 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind60° @ 4 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point36 C / 19 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:39
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data