# NTSB SEA01LA025: Cessna A185F, N7609Q, Lynwood, WA, December 3, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 3, 2000, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Lynwood, WA - Coordinates: 47.839855, -122.29039 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8399&lon=-122.2904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51346 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51346/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA025 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion due to refueling was not performed by the pilot-in-command. Trees and a fence were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that prior to departure to refuel the airplane at another nearby airport, he estimated about seven gallons of fuel in each fuel tank. About seven miles from his destination, the engine sputtered and eventually quit. A forced landing was made in a high school football field. During the landing roll, the aircraft collided with a chain link fence and trees surrounding the field. Approximately three gallons of fuel was drained from both wings. ## Factual narrative On December 3, 2000, at 1300 Pacific standard time, a Cessna A185F amphibian, N7609Q, registered to and operated by the commercial pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced an in-flight loss of engine power over Lynwood, Washington. While attempting an emergency landing in a high school football field, the aircraft collided with trees and a chain link fence near the field. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Seattle, Washington, about 15 minutes prior to the accident. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to refuel the aircraft at Paine Field, Everett, Washington. Before takeoff, the pilot noted that the fuel gages read slightly below empty and "assumed that this equated to approximately 7 gallons each." The pilot stated that from past experience, when the fuel gauges read empty there was still 10 gallons in the fuel tanks. After takeoff, the pilot switched the fuel selector to the right side fuel tank. About seven miles south of Paine Field, the engine sputtered. The pilot switched the fuel selector to both and activated the auxiliary boost pump and held in the emergency pump. The engine continued to sputter, then quit. The pilot initially identified a residential street for an emergency landing, then diverted to a high school football field when it was apparent that he would not make the street. During the landing roll, the aircraft collided with trees and a chain link fence near the field. During the aircraft recovery, a mechanic drained the remaining fuel from the wing fuel tanks. The mechanic reported that a total of about three gallons of fuel was drained from both wings. The pilot reported that the aircraft is equipped with long-range fuel tanks. The total fuel capacity is 80 gallons, with 74 gallons usable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7609Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7609Q), registered now, S/N 18503626, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18503626 - Airframe hours: 3820 - Engines: Continental IO-520-DGSB 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard S. Rush - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 16, 2000, 70 hours before - Departed: BFI, SEATTLE, WA - Destination: PAE, EVERETT, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,320 total, 53 in this make and model, 1,820 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PAE, 7 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 20001203025319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001203025319A), Dec 3, 2000: Cessna A185F, Lynnwood, WA, No damage. (-23) Pilot made emergency landing on Lynnwood high school football field. Engine sputtered and quit while in cruise at 1500' MSL. No fuel in 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. --- 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.