# NTSB ATL07LA120: Cessna A185F, N1344Q, Danube, NY, August 26, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 2007, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Danube, NY - Coordinates: 42.982223, -74.804443 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9822&lon=-74.8044&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66505 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07LA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66505/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07LA120 ## Probable cause The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - fence post ## Analysis The pilot flew some of the cross-country flight with the fuel selector positioned to the right main fuel tank, rather than both fuel tanks, as the airplane seemed heavy on the right side. During the return flight to his home airport, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power and collided with a fence post during a forced landing. Examination of the wreckage revealed that approximately 10 gallons of fuel was found in the left main fuel tank, and 2 gallons in the right main fuel tank. The engine was started and ran normally at idle to 1,700 rpm, followed by a normal shutdown. No mechanical anomalies were noted during examination or run-up of the engine. The fuel limitations for standard fuel tanks on the make and model accident airplane were 30.5 gallons in each fuel tank. There are a total of 55 gallons of usable fuel and 6 gallons of unusable fuel in all flight conditions. This amounts to 27.5 gallons of usable fuel and 3 gallons of unusable fuel for each main fuel tank. ## Factual narrative On August 26, 2007, at 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A185F amphibian airplane, N1344Q, experienced a total loss of engine power and collided with trees during an emergency landing near Danube, New York. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The airplane was registered to Wild Blue Yonder Leasing LLC and operated by the private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The pilot stated that he departed from Hamilton Municipal Airport (VGC), Hamilton, New York, and flew uneventfully to a lake in Meredith, New Hampshire. He said that during climbout, he had used the fuel from the right fuel tank because the airplane seemed "heavy on that side." During his return flight to VGC, he again used the fuel from the right main fuel tank. He recalled flying approximately 1 hour prior to his descent from 2,500 to 2,000 feet. Shortly thereafter, he switched his fuel selector to the both position and the engine "quit." He said that he was approximately "five miles" from VGC, but did not have enough time to make a "mayday" radio call or attempt an engine restart. During the subsequent forced landing to a field, the airplane struck a fence post and sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane's floats were collapsed, and the fuselage was buckled. Further examination reveled that the airplane was equipped with 2 standard main fuel tanks, and both main fuel tanks were not breached. Approximately 10 gallons of fuel was found in the left fuel tank, and 2 gallons in the right fuel tank. The airplane was transported to VGC for further examination, and a fuel container was plumbed into the left wing tank supply line. The engine was then started and ran normally for approximately 2 minutes at idle to 1,700 rpm, followed by a normal shutdown. No mechanical anomalies were noted during examination or run-up of the engine. A review of the Cessna Pilot's Operating Handbook revealed that the fuel limitations for standard fuel tanks on the A185F were 30.5 gallons in each fuel tank. There are a total of 55 gallons of usable fuel and 6 gallons of unusable fuel in all flight conditions. This amounts to 27.5 gallons of usable fuel and 3 gallons of unusable fuel for each wing fuel tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1344Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1344Q-2018-03-20), registration cancelled 2018-03-20, S/N 18503477 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18503477 - Airframe hours: 2537 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William A. Osuchowski - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2006, 24 hours before - Departed: NONE, Meredith, NH - Destination: VGC, Hamilton, NY - Airport: VGC, Hamilton Municipal airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 301 total, 189 in this make and model, 170 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: RME, 24 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 20070826829579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070826829579A), Aug 26, 2007: Cessna 185F, Little Falls, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) N1344Q departed from the hamilton airport (H30) in hamilton, NY on the morning of August 26, 2007 and flew to pemigewasset lake in meredith, NH with the… ## Other investigations on N1344Q (2) 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 NYC82DA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82DA232), Aug 8, 1982: Cessna 185F (N1344Q), Lake George, NY, substantial damage - [NTSB CHI78FET13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FET13), Jan 24, 1978: Cessna A185F (N1344Q), Berrien Spring, MI, 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.