# Accident 20110701014009A: Cessna A185F, Yabucoa, PR, July 1, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 1, 2011, 14:33 local time
- Place: Yabucoa, PR
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 18.0511° N, 65.7978° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.0511&lon=-65.7978&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8436Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8436Q-2011-10-11) (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: 5
- Fatal injuries: 5
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 6,895 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11FA376](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA376) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110701014009A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 3, 2011, A CALL WAS RECEIVED FORM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) SOUTHERN REGION OPERATIONS CENTER (ROC) INDICATING THAT AIRCRAFT N8436Q, A CESSNA 185 MODEL WAS REPORTED MISSING AFTER DEPARTING BENJAMIN RIVERA NORIEGA AIRPORT (CPX) ON FRIDAY JULY 1, 2011, AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30 PM. DESTINATION WAS MERCEDITA AIRPORT (PCE). FAMILY REPORTS AIRCRAFT MISSING ON JULY 3, 2011. AIRCRAFT N8436Q POSSIBLE TRACK CHART PREPARED BY THE FAA AIR TRAFFIC ORGANIZATION (ATO) INDICATED THAT THE LAST SIGNAL EMITTED BY THE AIRCRAFT TRANSPONDER WAS AT 14:33 LOCAL STANDARD TIME (LST) AT THE FOLLOWING COORDINATES: 18 03' 11.23" N, 065 48' 03.14" W. SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION STARTED ON JULY, 3, 2011. ON JULY 12, 2011, DIVERS FROM STATE AGENCIES LOCATED THE WRECKAGE 84 FEET DEEP ONE MILE FROM THE COAST OF YABUCOA, PR. AT THE FOLLOWING COORDINATES: 18 03' 0.62" N, 65 47' 8.62" W. RECOVERY OPERATION STARTED ON JULY, 15, 2011, AND ENDED ON JULY 18, 2011 WITH THE RECOVERING OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE INCLUDING ENGINE, AND EMPENNAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE WAS PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB), REPRESENTATIVES FROM CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY, CONTINENTAL ENGINES AND THE FAA. THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ON MARCH 15, 2011 AT 662.92 HOURS AIRCRAFT TOTAL TIME. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) PREVAILED IN THE ACCIDENT SITE AREA AND AT THE TIME ACCIDENT OCCURRED. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT FROM CPX TO PCE. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT, AND THE COMMERCIAL-RATED PILOT AND FOUR PASSENGERS WERE KILLED. PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE NTSB.

## 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 ERA11FA376](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA376), Jul 1, 2011: Cessna A185F (N8436Q), Yabucoa, PR, substantial damage, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate weather planning and improper decision to continue a visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an encounter with a thunderstorm…

## Other reports on N8436Q (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19801211085849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801211085849A), Dec 11, 1980: Cessna 185F (N8436Q), Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, Substantial damage. Wind gust drifted airplane into trees on edge of runway on takeoff.

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.

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