# NTSB NYC85LA113: Cessna 182, N5685B, Pittstown, NJ, April 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 28, 1985, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Pittstown, NJ
- Location: 40.5659° N, 74.9793° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SKY MANOR (N40), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5659&lon=-74.9793&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35864
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85LA113
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35864/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA113

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE PREFLIGHTED THE ACFT & DECIDED THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FUEL TO HAUL SKYDIVERS ON 2 MORE FLTS. ON THE 2ND FLT, HE HAD TO MAKE THREE PASSES INSTEAD OF ONE. DURING THE APCH TO THE ARPT, THE ENG LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT TRIED TO REACH THE RWY, BUT LANDED SHORT ON PLOWED TERRAIN. THE WHEELS DUG INTO THE PLOWED TERRAIN, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE PLT HAD PLANNED A FUEL CONSUMPTION RATE OF 12.1 GAL/HR. HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL FUEL CONSUMPTION (AFTER INSTALLATION OF A NEW ENG) WAS 12.8 GAL/HR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5685B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5685B-1992-08-13), registration cancelled 1992-08-13, S/N 33685 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Registry model: [Cessna 182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (registry code 2072702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 33685
- Airframe hours: 6482
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Registered owner: Beresford P. Mertzger
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 1985, 8 hours before
- Airport: N40, Sky Manor, runway 6, 2,439 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 691 total, 305 in this make and model, 580 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F
- Observed at: 2 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850428015889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850428015889A), Apr 28, 1985: Cessna 182, Pittstown, NJ, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel landing after sky diver flights. Landed short. Nosed over soft field. Misjudged fuel burn.

## Other investigations on N5685B (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 CHI67D0539](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI67D0539), Mar 11, 1967: Cessna 182 (N5685B), Clarington, OH, substantial damage

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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