# NTSB ANC98LA098: Cessna 185E, N2750J, Mcgrath, AK, July 15, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 14, 1998, 17:00 local (Jul 15, 1998, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Mcgrath, AK - Coordinates: 63.610065, -154.779342 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6101&lon=-154.7793&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 43067 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43067/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA098 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for a undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - to cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was flying the airplane to a repair station for an inspection of the engine. He had noticed metal particulate matter in the engine oil during the last oil change, and felt the engine needed a mechanical inspection. While climbing to cruise, the engine shuddered, and lost all power. The pilot said he was unable to return to his departure airport, and made a forced landing on a dirt road. The airplane struck trees along the road, and received substantial damage. The airplane is in a remote location, and has not been recovered, or inspected by the NTSB. ## Factual narrative On July 14, 1998, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 185E airplane, N2750J, received substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent off airport forced landing near McGrath, Alaska. The solo commercial certificated pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions, and a VFR flight plan was in effect. The flight originated at McGrath about 1650, and the destination was Palmer, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on the day of the accident, the pilot related the purpose of the flight was to ferry the airplane to an engine repair facility in Palmer for an inspection. He said he had noticed some aluminum-type particulate matter in the engine oil during the last oil change, and wanted the engine inspected. He said the accident flight proceeded normally as he climbed the airplane to about 8,000 feet msl. At that time, the engine begin to shudder violently, and then quit. He said he attempted to return to the McGrath Airport, but was unable to glide that far. He selected a road about one mile east of the airport for an emergency landing. During the ensuing landing roll, the left wing struck willow trees, and the airplane was pulled to the left and into a ditch, causing substantial damage to the wings and the fuselage. The engine from the accident airplane has not been recovered and made available to the NTSB for inspection. It is unknown when, or if, the engine will be brought to a repair facility for inspection, and there are no suitable aviation repair/inspection facilities in McGrath. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2750J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2750J-2001-03-06), registration cancelled 2001-03-06, S/N 185-1500 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185E - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1851500 - Airframe hours: 4360 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James F. Ellis - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 8, 1998, 23 hours before - Departed: MCG - Destination: PAQ, PALMER, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,168 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 6,990 as pilot in command, 207 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MCG, 270 nm away ## 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 19980714016639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980714016639A), Jul 14, 1998: Cessna A185E, Mcgrath, AK, Substantial damage. Rough engine at cruise. Turned back for mcg but landed on road. Connecting rod cap came loosed. (.4) the pilot was flying the airplane to a repair station for… ## Other investigations on N2750J (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 ANC79FA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79FA005), Oct 14, 1978: Cessna 185E (N2750J), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage 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.