Accident Overview
On February 2, 2025, at approximately 1354 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 182F, registration N3206U, experienced a total loss of engine power during final approach to Merrill Field in Anchorage, Alaska. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a vacant parking lot, where the aircraft struck a curb, resulting in the separation of the nose gear and substantial damage to the fuselage and engine mount. The pilot and passenger were uninjured.
Flight Details
The flight was a personal operation under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, intended to break in two new cylinders installed the previous November. The flight duration was 2 hours and 50 minutes. According to the pilot, the fuel selector was set to Both for the first two hours, then switched to Right for the remainder. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot moved the selector from Right back to Both as part of the before-landing checklist. Shortly after, the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) rose and the engine began running rough. The pilot applied carburetor heat, which temporarily normalized the temperature. However, during the turn to final approach, the engine lost total power. Attempts to restart by cycling the magnetos and carburetor heat were unsuccessful.
Fuel and Engine Examination
The pilot reported visually checking fuel before departure but did not verify the exact quantity. The last fueling was on December 17, 2024, with 34.3 gallons added. Post-accident measurements using the aircraft's dip stick fuel gauge showed the right wing tank empty and the left tank containing about 6 gallons. Cockpit fuel gauges indicated the left tank empty and the right tank just under 1/4 full. Maintenance records showed the original bladder fuel tanks were replaced with fiberglass tanks having a total capacity of 62 gallons (57 gallons usable).
Examination of the engine revealed the fuel selector valve functioned normally in all positions. The gascolator drained a small amount of uncontaminated fuel. Fuel system continuity was confirmed, and no preimpact failures or malfunctions were found. The carburetor heat line was impact-separated. Data from the engine monitoring device indicated a normal takeoff and cruise, but during the last minute of flight, EGT increased slightly then dropped along with cylinder head temperature. According to the aircraft owner's manual, fuel consumption at 2,350 rpm with mixture leaned is 13.4-14.0 gallons per hour; however, the pilot operated with the mixture full rich, making actual fuel burn indeterminate.