# NTSB CEN09CA477: Cessna A185F, N989DM, River Falls, WI, July 30, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 29, 2009, 21:38 local (Jul 30, 2009, 02:38 UTC) - Place: River Falls, WI - Coordinates: 44.843887, -92.755836 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8439&lon=-92.7558&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74405 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA477 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74405/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74405 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA477 ## Probable cause The pilot not checking the security of the fuel caps prior to flight leading to fuel exhaustion and the subsequent non-mechanical loss of engine power during descent. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had the airplane fueled and then departed on a cross country flight. The airplane lost engine power during descent. The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted high vegetation during the forced landing. The pilot stated that he did not check the fuel tank caps before the flight. The fuel tanks did not contain fuel and fuel caps were not in-place on-scene. The airplane's preflight inspection checklist indicate that both fuel tank caps are to be checked for security. ## Factual narrative The pilot had the airplane fueled and then departed on a cross country flight. The pilot reported that the airplane lost engine power during descent to the destination airport. An off-airport landing was performed and substantial damage occurred when the airplane impacted high vegetation. The pilot stated that he did not check the fuel tank caps before the flight. The fuel tanks did not contain fuel and fuel caps were not in-place on-scene. The Cessna 185, Skywagon, owner's manual contained a preflight inspection checklist. That inspection checklist, in part, stated: 4 f. Visually check fuel quantity; then check [the right fuel tank’s] fuel filler cap secure and vent unobstructed. ... 6 a. Visually check fuel quantity; then check [the left fuel tank’s] fuel filler cap secure and vent unobstructed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N989DM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N989DM-2012-03-20), registration cancelled 2012-03-20, S/N 18502721 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18502721 - Airframe hours: 6700 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2009 - Departed: OSH, Oshkosh, WI - Destination: SGS, South St Paul, MN - Airport: SGS, South St Paul Municipal Arpt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,575 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,535 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 310° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: STP ## 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 20090729048559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090729048559A), Jul 29, 2009: Cessna A185F, River Falls, WI. Pilot fueled up at osh kosh WI. And headed for fleming field st. paul MN. Aircraft engine started sputtering and losing power over River Falls WI.engine… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74405. 661 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 501 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317596&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Interview (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317597&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-Master.PDF - Airplane Owner's Manual Excerpt (item 3, .PDF, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317598&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Owner%27s%20Manual%20Excerpt-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.