# Accident 20090729048559A: Cessna A185F, River Falls, WI, July 29, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 29, 2009, 22:39 local time
- Place: River Falls, WI
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.8439° N, 92.7558° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8439&lon=-92.7558&mi=10
- Aircraft: N989DM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N989DM-2012-03-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A185F (registry code 2072821, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,575 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA477](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA477) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090729048559A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN09CA477](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA477), Jul 30, 2009: Cessna A185F (N989DM), River Falls, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.