- Date
- April 11, 1997, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Wetumpka, AL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N285BGCessna 185D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970411010869A
- Case key
- 38262
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
loss of engine power during a go-around for undetermined reason(s).
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot extended the landing gear, while approaching to land, but obtained an unsafe gear indication, and made a go-around. After climbing to about 1000 to 1500 feet, the engine lost power. The fuel selector was in the 'both' position, and boost pumps turned on high. The engine responded for a short time, but lost power again. The pilot attempted to land the amphibious airplane on a lake. However, he was unable to reach the lake during the forced landing, and the airplane touched down short in a clearing, then collided with a ditch during the landing roll. Examination of the fuel system revealed fuel in both fuel tanks. An engine run was conducted. The engine started and developed full power.
Factual narrative
On April 11, 1997, about 1015 central daylight time, a Cessna 185D, N285BG, registered to a private owner, crashed during a forced landing following a loss of engine power in the vicinity of Wetumpka, Alabama, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The amphibious airplane received substantial damage and the private pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Ware Island, Alabama, about 45 minutes before the accident.
The pilot stated to the FAA that when he lowered the landing gear, he received no right side indication, landed, felt the right side of aircraft dip, then applied power and initiated a go-around. On the climb-out, at about 1,000 to 1,500 feet, the engine lost power. The fuel selector was moved to the "both" position and the boost pumps were positioned on high. The engine responded a short time and lost partial power again. He continued to regain full power and was attempting a forced landing to a lake, but collided with a ditch at the base of a dam.
Examination of the fuel system revealed about 1 inch of fuel in the left fuel tank. About 3 inches of fuel was collected in a 55-gallon drum from the left fuel vent and about 3 inches of fuel was measured in the right fuel tank. An engine run was conducted on April 18, 1997. The engine started and reached full power without hesitation or other abnormalities.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N285BG
- Reported as
- Cessna 185D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1850798
- Airframe hours
- 2,279
- Engine
- Continental 10520-FCD, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Richard Meyer
- Registered owner
- Betty Norris
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 4, 1996 · 11 hours before
- Departed
- 65A · Ware Lake, AL
- Destination
- 08A · AL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,345 total · 50 in this make and model · 4,245 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 17 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MGM, 20 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.