NTSB investigations: Continental C85 series
23 cases on aircraft whose registry engine model is Continental C85 series, where the defining event was Loss of engine power (total). Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.
Cases per year
| 2008 | 4 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
Where
Latest cases
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('17008')
AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = x.position AND e.\"isDefiningEvent\" AND e.\"tier2Number\" = '341'))
ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('17008')
AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = x.position AND e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '341'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESCRun it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.
NTSB CEN26FA034Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportFunk B85C · Anderson, INOn November 4, 2025, about 12:45 eastern standard time, a Funk B85C airplane, N24157 was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Anderson, Indiana. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of…NTSB CEN25LA186Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportAeronca 7AC · Westphalia, MIOn May 24, 2025, at 1300 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N2659E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Westphalia, Michigan. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal…NTSB ANC23LA053Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAeronca 7DC · Ninilchik, AKA total loss of engine power due to a shift of a crankshaft main bearing, which resulted in a lack of lubrication and subsequent overheating and failure of the engine crankshaft.NTSB CEN19LA213Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportErcoupe 415 · Smithfield, RIThe pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat on approach in weather conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a forced landing to a pond.NTSB CEN19LA111Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Newton, KSThe loss of engine power after the No. 1 connecting rod end separated as a result of oil starvation, which led to the forced landing and nose-over.NTSB CEN18LA362Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportLuscombe 8 · New Carlisle, OHA total loss of engine power shortly after takeoff due to carburetor ice.NTSB WPR18LA224Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Marsing, IDThe loss of engine power during a low pass as a result of a blockage of the carburetor idle chambers which led to a forced landing in a river.NTSB CEN18FA235Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportErcoupe 415 D · Monmouth, ILA loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.NTSB CEN18LA034Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportErcoupe 415 CD · Aurora, COThe failure of the engine-driven fuel pump and the pilot's failure to identify the pump's failure, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and a forced landing on a road, during which the airplane hit obstacles.NTSB WPR18LA020Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Port Townsend, WAA total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.NTSB WPR16FA118Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportMoore Joseph O Varieze · Santa Paula, CAA total loss of engine power due to fatigue failure of the camshaft drive gear teeth.NTSB CEN16LA033Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 120 · Gonzales, LAMaintenance personnel’s improper installation of the carburetor during recent maintenance, including the omission of a required cotter pin, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.NTSB CEN14WA294Accident · No injuriesForeign investigationPiper J3C 65 · Rolleville, FranceNTSB WPR14LA100Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportErcoupe 415 C · Poulsbo, WAThe pilot's failure to confirm that the engine oil filler cap was secured before flight, which resulted in oil exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power during cruise flight.NTSB ERA11LA503Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 120 · Cordele, GAThe pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.NTSB CEN10CA332Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Hot Springs, ARA total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's inadvertent closure of the fuel valve. Contributing to the accident were the unmarked fuel shutoff valve and the pilot's inexperience in the accident airplane.NTSB CEN10LA281Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 140 · Atchison, KSThe loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.NTSB ERA10LA189Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 120 · Annapolis, MDA loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.NTSB WPR10LA003Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMateskon Fisher DAK · Bozeman, MTA loss of engine power due to shearing of the crankshaft gear cluster bolts. Contributing to the accident was the lack of regular overhaul periods as recommended by the engine manufacturer.NTSB ERA09CA014Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C-50 · Epping, NHThe pilot's improper preflight inspection and his decision to fly an unairworthy airplane.NTSB LAX08LA161Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportDavison Vari Eze · Arlington, WAA loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.NTSB CHI08CA127Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 140 · Burlington, WIA loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the low altitude at the time of the loss of engine power.NTSB DFW08LA106Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportTomblingson-Leathers Breezy RLU-1 · Groveton, TXThe loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the forced landing. Contributing factors were the non-suitable terrain for the forced landing and the pilot's lack of experience in the airplane.