# NTSB ERA26LA050: Cessna 401, N6255Q, Eureka, NC, November 18, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: November 18, 2025, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Eureka, NC
- Coordinates: 35.570653, -77.872397 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5707&lon=-77.8724&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202051
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA050
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202051/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA050

## Preliminary report

On November 18, 2025, at 12:30 eastern standard time, a Cessna 401A, N6255Q, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Eureka, North Carolina. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight. The pilot reported that, prior to the flight, he had the airplane serviced with 124 gallons of fuel, topping off the fuel tanks. The pilot stated that the preflight inspection, takeoff, and climb to 17,000 ft were uneventful. During the flight, the pilot transferred the fuel in the locker tanks into the main fuel tanks; shortly after emptying the locker tanks, he switched to the auxiliary fuel tanks. The pilot stated that he utilized the auxiliary fuel tanks until they were at the 5-gallon mark on the fuel gauges. The pilot then switched to the main fuel tanks; shortly thereafter, he reported the left engine lost power. As he started performing the emergency checklist, the right engine lost power. After the losses of engine power, the pilot stated that he trimmed the airplane for 120 knots. The pilot determined he would be unable to reach his selected airport and decided to perform a forced landing in a field. The pilot lowered the landing gear and set the flaps to 10°. After landing on the field, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to a stop. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. According to the recovery personnel, about 2 gallons of fuel were drained from each auxiliary tank, and about 25 gallons were drained from each main fuel tank. The wreckage was recovered and retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 401A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=207590D), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6255Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6255Q), registered now, S/N 401A0055, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 401 (A)
- Registry model: [Cessna 401A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-401a) (registry code 207590D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (registry code 17035, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 401A0055
- Year built: 1969
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Registered owner: Valiair Limited Company Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PGV, Greenville, NC
- Equipment: Data recorder, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: KGWW, 8 nm away
- METAR: METAR KGWW 181735Z AUTO 10SM CLR 17/M03 A3020 RMK AO2 T01671032=

## 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 20251118016389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251118016389A), Nov 18, 2025: Cessna 401A, Fremont, NC, Substantial damage. The pilot was conducting aerial surveillance when they experienced a dual engine failure after switching from the auxillary fuel tanks to the main fuel tanks…

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.

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