- Date
- June 25, 1992, 13:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place
- Ronan, MT
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4690CCessna A185F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920625021759A
- Case key
- 42840
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 operation with known deficiencies in equipment and erratic operation of the fuel control system. A factor contributing to the accident was: soft terrain.
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 had experienced a power loss upon power reapplication following idle operation subsequent to landing on several previous occasions. After discussing the symptoms with a mechanic, and deciding that the fuel control system required adjustment, the pilot initiated a flight to the mechanic's facility to carry out the intended maintenance work. Shortly after departing for the mechanic's airstrip, and at the completion of a 360 degree spiralling descent to lose altitude prior to landing, the pilot reapplied power, experienced a surge and then lost engine power. He executed a forced landing on soft terrain during which the left main gear separated after the gear began to dig in during the landing roll. The fuel control metering unit had been repaired in April of 1991 prior to the aircraft's sale and relocation from new Mexico to Montana in November 1991.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4690C
- Reported as
- Cessna A185F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18502597
- Airframe hours
- 4,100
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mikkelsen, Alan & Lynette
- Registered owner
- Mikkelsen, Alan & Lynette
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 4, 1991 · 100 hours before
- Departed
- 52S · St. Ignatius, MT
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
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,630 total · 150 in this make and model · 1,540 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MSO, 37 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.
Other investigations on N4690C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.