# NTSB DEN04LA071: Cessna A185E, N185K, Englewood, CO, May 8, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 8, 2004, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Englewood, CO - Coordinates: 39.569999, -104.849166 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5700&lon=-104.8492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 59200 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59200/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA071 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight planning which failed to verify an adequate fuel supply and his inadequate in-flight planning/decision which resulted in fuel exhaustion. The inadequate indication of his fuel quantity system is a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fuel tank selector position - not verified, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - inaccurate (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis The pilot had been cleared to land and was following slower traffic. He reduced airspeed and made a constant left turn. When he rolled out on final approach, he opened the throttle to arrest the descent rate. The engine did not respond although it was still running. He relaxed back pressure on the control yoke to maintain airspeed and banked slightly to land on a steep incline short of the runway. The descent rate increased and the airplane impacted the incline. Postaccident examination revealed the main landing gear was torn out of the fuselage, the firewall was buckled, and the forward portion of the fuselage aft of the firewall was wrinkled. One year earlier, a fuel management system was installed in the airplane. The system digitally indicates, by the toggling of a switch, total fuel on board, consumption rate, endurance, and fuel remaining. The pilot said that prior to taking off for the 8-mile flight, he checked the fuel quantity and it indicated 10.1 gallons. After the accident, he again checked the fuel quantity and it indicated 8.0 gallons. If properly installed and calibrated correctly, the system will indicated no more than a plus or minus 1.0 gallon error. The recovery crew drained one gallon from all the fuel tanks. The pilot said that several months before the accident, the bracket that secured the throttle cable to the firewall broke. Maintenance records contained no entry of a repair being made. Although the engine had been pushed aft and buckled the firewall, cockpit movement of the throttle produced cable movement at the throttle valve. ## Factual narrative On May 8, 2004, approximately 0915 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A185E, N185K, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when the engine lost power and it struck terrain 0.25 miles short of runway 17L at Centennial Airport (APA), Englewood, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot received minor injuries, but his passenger was seriously injured. The flight originated at Everitt Airstrip, Parker, Colorado, approximately 0910, and was en route to Centennial Airport. In his accident report, the pilot stated that this was a "short nine (9) mile flight" to refuel. He had been cleared to land and was following "slow" traffic to runway 17L. He reduced airspeed and made a constant left turn. When he rolled out on final approach, he opened the throttle to arrest the descent rate. The engine did not respond although it was still running. He relaxed back pressure on the control yoke to maintain airspeed and banked slightly to land on a steep incline short of runway 17L. The descent rate increased and the airplane impacted the incline. Postaccident examination revealed the main landing gear was torn out of the fuselage, the firewall was buckled, and the forward portion of the fuselage aft of the firewall was wrinkled. On May 1, 2003, a Shaddin Fuel Flow system was installed in the airplane. The system digitally indicates, by the toggling of a switch, total fuel on board, consumption rate, endurance, and fuel remaining. The pilot said that prior to taking off from Everett, he checked the fuel quantity and it indicated 10.1 gallons. After the accident, he again checked the fuel quantity and it indicated 8.0 gallons. If properly installed and calibrated correctly, the system will indicate no more than a plus or minus 1.0 gallon error. The recovery crew said that when they retrieved the airplane, they drained only one gallon from the fuel tanks. The pilot said that several months before the accident, the bracket that secured the throttle cable to the firewall broke. This happened while the airplane was being taxied. Maintenance records contained no entry of a repair being made. Although the engine had been pushed aft and buckled the firewall, cockpit movement of the throttle produced cable movement at the throttle valve. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N185K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N185K-2008-01-29), registration cancelled 2008-01-29, S/N 18501887, built 1971 (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: 18501887 - Airframe hours: 4017 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2003, 119 hours before - Departed: 1CO8, Parker, CO - Destination: APA, Englewood, CO - Airport: KAPA, Centennial Airport, runway 17L, 10,002 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 3, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 720 total, 179 in this make and model, 651 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: APA ## 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 20040508008989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040508008989A), May 8, 2004: Cessna A185E, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 8, 2004 Cessna N185K crashed short of runway 17L at Centennial Airport, Colorado. The private pilot and his passenger were seriously injured. The… ## Other investigations on N185K (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 SEA96LA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA193), Aug 15, 1996: Cessna A185E (N185K), Cody, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane and runway alignment during the takeoff roll. Factors relating to the accident were: the crosswind, and possible dragging of the… 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.