- Date
- March 11, 1996, 11:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place
- Shirley, ME
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N712MYCessna A185E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 20, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960311003969A
- Case key
- 39158
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
the pilot's fuel mismanagement and improper use of the fuel selector valve which resulted in fuel starvation.
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 intended to conduct a survey flight of timber property. The airplane departed with 10 and 15 gallons of fuel in the right and left fuel tanks respectively. About 5 minutes after departure the pilot repositioned the fuel selector valve from the both to right position. The flight was continued for approximately 45 minutes with the fuel selector selected to the right fuel tank. The engine then lost total power as the pilot performed a right turn. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft and stated, 'I neglected to switch before the tank was completely empty.' The pilot further stated that the accident could have been prevented by, 'Better management of the fuel system. After the engine quit I should have turned the boost pump on and switched to BOTH on the fuel selector, or simply run on BOTH the entire flight.'
Factual narrative
On March 11, 1996, about 1120 eastern standard time, a Cessna A185E, N712MY, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees during a forced landing, near Shirley, Maine. The commercial pilot received minor injuries, and the three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that departed the Greenville Municipal Airport, Greenville, Maine, about 1030. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to survey timber property. Prior to departure it was determined that the right and left fuel tanks had 10 and 15 gallons of fuel respectively. The takeoff was performed with the fuel selector valve selected to the both position. About 5 minutes after departure, the pilot switched the fuel selector valve from the both to right position. The flight continued for approximately 45 minutes with the fuel selector selected to the right fuel tank, at which time the engine lost total power as the pilot executed a right turn. The pilot then performed a forced landing, during which the airplane struck trees and entered a nose down left turn prior to impacting the ground.
In a written statement submitted by the pilot, he stated: "I neglected to switch before the tank was completely empty." In the NTSB form 6120.1/2 under recommendations of how this accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated: "Better management of the fuel system. After the engine quit I should have turned the boost pump on and switched to BOTH on the fuel selector, or simply run on BOTH the entire flight."
Additionally, the pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N712MY
- Reported as
- Cessna A185E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 185-1387
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Folsom'S Air Service
- Registered owner
- Northern Flights Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 52B · Greenville, ME
- Airport
- 52B · Greenville Spb
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,100 total · 125 in this make and model · 2,760 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.