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

20082026
NTSB investigations: Continental C85 series per year, 2008–2026: 23 cases
20084
20091
20103
20111
20142
20151
20161
20172
20183
20192
20231
20252

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.

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…Nov 4, 2025 · N24157 · Substantial damageNTSB 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…May 24, 2025 · N2659E · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Jul 13, 2023 · N83391 · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Jun 22, 2019 · N415WP · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Mar 26, 2019 · N76268 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN18LA362Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportLuscombe 8 · New Carlisle, OHA total loss of engine power shortly after takeoff due to carburetor ice.Aug 31, 2018 · N2305K · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Aug 14, 2018 · N89093 · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Jun 24, 2018 · N94070 · DestroyedNTSB 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.Nov 20, 2017 · N3067H · Substantial damageNTSB WPR18LA020Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Port Townsend, WAA total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.Oct 30, 2017 · N72339 · Substantial damageNTSB 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.May 28, 2016 · N80681 · DestroyedNTSB 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.Nov 6, 2015 · N2942N · Substantial damageNTSB CEN14WA294Accident · No injuriesForeign investigationPiper J3C 65 · Rolleville, FranceJun 11, 2014 · N61903 · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Jan 20, 2014 · N2076H · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Sep 24, 2011 · N3101N · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Jun 14, 2010 · N70906 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10LA281Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 140 · Atchison, KSThe loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.May 29, 2010 · N76287 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA10LA189Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 120 · Annapolis, MDA loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.Mar 25, 2010 · N72560 · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Oct 3, 2009 · N359JM · Substantial damageNTSB ERA09CA014Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C-50 · Epping, NHThe pilot's improper preflight inspection and his decision to fly an unairworthy airplane.Oct 12, 2008 · N23267 · Substantial damageNTSB LAX08LA161Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportDavison Vari Eze · Arlington, WAA loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.Jun 2, 2008 · N644VZ · Substantial damageNTSB 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.May 9, 2008 · N89307 · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Apr 19, 2008 · N3921 · Substantial damage