20090729048559A

Accident

FAA accident report · Cessna A185F · River Falls, WI · July 29, 2009

Date: July 29, 2009 · 22:39 local
Place: River Falls, WI
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Aircraft: N989DM
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN09CA477
Reported as: Cessna A185F
Reported engine: Continental IO-520 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,575 total1,000 in this make and model60 in the last 90 days

N989DMRegistration cancelled Mar 20, 2012 · Cessna A185FS/N 18502721 Airframe modelCessna A185F Engine modelContinental IO-520 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot fueled up at osh kosh WI. And headed for fleming field st. paul MN. Aircraft engine started sputtering and losing power over River Falls WI.engine completely stopped and pilot put aircraft down in empty lot near corn field. Sheriff was there within 10 minutes. Sheriff told this inspector that the pilot stated to him , " I see the fuel caps are loose. We noticed red streaks from fuel cap aft to flaps. Removed fuel drain plug on up hill wing. It was completely dry.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT FUELED UP AT OSH KOSH WI. AND HEADED FOR FLEMING FIELD ST. PAUL MN. AIRCRAFT ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING AND LOSING POWER OVER RIVER FALLS WI.ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPPED AND PILOT PUT AIRCRAFT DOWN IN EMPTY LOT NEAR CORN FIELD. SHERIFF WAS THERE WITHIN 10 MINUTES. SHERIFF TOLD THIS INSPECTOR THAT THE PILOT STATED TO HIM , " I SEE THE FUEL CAPS ARE LOOSE. WE NOTICED RED STREAKS FROM FUEL CAP AFT TO FLAPS. REMOVED FUEL DRAIN PLUG ON UP HILL WING. IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN09CA477Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRiver Falls, WIThe pilot not checking the security of the fuel caps prior to flight leading to fuel exhaustion and the subsequent non-mechanical loss of engine power during descent.Jul 30, 2009 · Substantial damage