# Accident 20250927021579A: Cessna 185A, Ilwaco, WA, September 27, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 27, 2025, 09:50 local time
- Place: Ilwaco, WA
- Airport: Port Of Ilwaco
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.3071° N, 123.9655° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3071&lon=-123.9655&mi=10
- Aircraft: N186X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N186X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 185A (registry code 2072804, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-G1C5 (registry code 41643, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-g1c5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-G1C5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25LA298](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA298) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250927021579A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ABOUT 2 MILES EAST OF THE DESTINATION

AIRPORT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. HE ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD, WHILE ON APPROACH TO LAND, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED DRAINAGE CANAL, WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING. POST ACCIDENT

EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE PILOT REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANKS CONTAINED NO USABLE FUEL. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, HE DID NOT VISUALLY VERIFY THE FUEL LEVELS IN THE FUEL TANKS AND RELIED ON THE FUEL ANALYZER.

## 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 WPR25LA298](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA298), Sep 27, 2025: Cessna 185A (N186X), Ilwaco, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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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