# NTSB ANC10LA024: Cessna A185E, N70039, Ophir, AK, March 10, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 10, 2010, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Ophir, AK - Coordinates: 63.085556, -156.423614 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.0856&lon=-156.4236&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75498 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75498/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75498 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA024 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Inoperative; cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during cruise flight, with the airplane about 600 feet above the ground, the engine lost all power. He was unable to restore power, and during the ensuing off-airport forced landing, the left wing struck a tree, resulting in substantial damage. A postaccident examination disclosed ample fuel and no evidence of any preimpact mechanical problems with the engine. No reason for the loss of engine power could be determined. ## Factual narrative On March 10, 2010, about 1500 Alaska standard time, a ski/wheel equipped Cessna A185E, N70039, registered to and operated by a private individual, landed hard during a forced landing near Ophir, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight from Takotna, Alaska, to McGrath Airport, McGrath, Alaska. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial certificated pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Takotna about 1415. The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to see the Iditarod sled race. The pilot departed Anchorage the day before with full fuel tanks, and flew to Nikolai, Alaska, landing uneventfully; the flight duration was approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. The airplane remained on the ground overnight, and on the accident date was flown from Nikolai to Takotna, remaining on the ground approximately 3 hours. He departed Takotna with approximately 35 gallons of fuel as indicated by the fuel quantity gauges, and flew towards Cripple. About ½ way towards Cripple, he elected to fly to McGrath. The airplane at that time was about 5 miles east of Ophir. The pilot said that while flying between 500 and 600 feet, the engine suddenly quit. He turned the boost pump to high, moved the fuel selector from the “both” position, and moved the magneto switch in efforts to restore engine power. He was unable to restore power and maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing in a clearing. During a controlled descent, the left wing collided with a tree, causing the airplane to decelerate. The airplane then impacted the ground hard, coming to rest upright in a left wing low attitude. The occupants evacuated the airplane and the pilot radioed on 121.5 MHz announcing that he had performed a forced landing giving his coordinates. The flightcrew of a Chinese airline heard the radio call and relayed that information to air traffic control. The flightcrew of an airplane associated with the Iditarod sled race flew to the accident site area and advised the pilot of the direction of the sled race trail. Prior to leaving the area the pilot noticed fuel leaking from the left wing fuel vent line, which he attempted to stop by turning the firewall fuel shutoff valve to the off position. He and the passengers walked towards the trail and were taken by snowmobile to Ophir. Because of the remote location of the accident site, an inspection of the airplane by personnel from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was not possible before recovery. The individual who recovered the airplane reported approximately 20 gallons of fuel were drained from the airplane’s fuel tanks. The airplane was later removed from the site and transported to Anchorage, Alaska, for further examination. Examination of the airplane and engine following recovery by a FAA airworthiness inspector revealed all three propeller blades were bent aft with someleading edge damage. All engine controls and external fluid hoses were secure and properly attached. The engine rotated freely and all accessories exhibited normal motion. The airplane’s fuel system and fuel strainers were examined with no discrepancies noted. No determination could be made as to the reason for the reported loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70039](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70039-2017-05-31), registration cancelled 2017-05-31, S/N 18501910 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185E - 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: 18501910 - Airframe hours: 4409 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wight John I - Registered owner: Wight John I - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 26, 2010 - Departed: Takotna, AK - Destination: PAMC, McGrath, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 6, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 27,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 23,000 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -13 °F - Altimeter: 29.40 inHg - Observed at: PAMC ## 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 20100310029659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100310029659A), Mar 10, 2010: Cessna A185E, Tokatna, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot was interviewed on 03/11/2010 at the mcgrath airport. The pilot stated he had departed his home at campbell lake, anchorage Alaska on 03/09/2010 with… ## Other investigations on N70039 (3) 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 ANC96LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA068), May 3, 1996: Cessna 185 (N70039), Kodiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were the soft terrain at the landing site, and a crosswind. - [NTSB ANC81FA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81FA053), May 14, 1981: Cessna A185E (N70039), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC76AA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76AA038), Sep 18, 1975: Cessna A185E (N70039), Twin Lakes, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 26, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75498. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327293&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 11 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327160&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Record of NTSB Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 183 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327208&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversation-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 4, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341417&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF 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.