# NTSB CHI82DA253: Cessna A185F, N8375Q, Lake Delton, WI, July 17, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 17, 1982
- Place: Lake Delton, WI
- Location: 43.5920° N, 89.7831° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lake Delton, WI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5920&lon=-89.7831&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 17, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71321
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI82DA253
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71321/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82DA253

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED ON ITS FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT NOTED A DETERIORATION OF POWER AS HE WAS CLIMBING THROUGH ABOUT 400 FT AGL. HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE THE POWER AND COULD NOT MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT. DURING A FORCED LANDING IN A CORN FIELD, THE AIRCRAFT SLID A SHORT DISTANCE AND THEN NOSED OVER. AN EXAMINATION AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE RUN-UP REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8375Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8375Q), registered now, S/N 18503671, built 1978 (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: 18503671
- Airframe hours: 993
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dells Seaplane Sv
- Registered owner: Dells Seaplane Sv
- Departed: MEDO BASE, WI
- Destination: MEDO BASE, WI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 4,226 total, 606 in this make and model, 3,295 as pilot in command, 236 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 185 °F

## 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 19820717035679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820717035679A), Jul 17, 1982: Cessna A185F, Lake Delton, WI, Substantial damage. Engine lost power on climbout. Landed in cornfield and nosed over. Engine ran normal after accident.

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.