# NTSB ANC08CA049: Cessna 185, N185AR, Big Lake, AK, April 9, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 8, 2008, 17:36 local (Apr 9, 2008, 01:36 UTC) - Place: Big Lake, AK - Coordinates: 61.571388, -149.967498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5714&lon=-149.9675&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68103 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08CA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68103/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA049 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane prior to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the wheel-ski equipped airplane related that while en route to his home airport, he encountered an area of transient snow showers along his flight path, which required him to fly further north than originally anticipated. He said that as he approached his destination airport, the engine began to lose power, and he selected a snow-covered meadow as a forced landing site. During touchdown, the wheel-skis sank in deep snow, and both main landing gear legs collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and noted that the reason for the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the wheel-ski equipped airplane related that while en route to his home airport, he encountered an area of transient snow showers along his flight path, which required him to fly further north than originally anticipated. He said that as he approached his destination airport, the engine began to lose power, and he selected a snow-covered meadow as a forced landing site. During touchdown, the wheel-skis sank in deep snow, and both main landing gear legs collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and noted that the reason for the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N185AR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185AR), registered now, S/N 1851464, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1851464 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Anthony Lee - Registered owner: Donna Plisga - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ILI, Iliamna, AK - Destination: Big Lake, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 9,917 total, 100 in this make and model, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 5 statute miles ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20080408831869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080408831869A), Apr 8, 2008: Cessna A185E, Big Lake, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Upon returning from illiamna (pail) to a lake located five miles north of Big Lake, the pilot in command encountered marginal weather. While attempting… 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. --- 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.