# NTSB SEA93LA059: Cessna A185F, N5391R, Inglewood, WA, January 30, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 30, 1993, 11:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Inglewood, WA
- Coordinates: 47.739593, -122.200698 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7396&lon=-122.2007&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42982/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA059

## Probable cause

FUEL EXHAUSTION, THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT, AND HIS FAILURE TO FLARE ON LANDING. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FOG.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - flare - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE PREFLIGHT OF HIS FLOATPLANE HE VISUALLY CHECKED INSIDE THE FUEL TANKS AND ESTIMATED THAT HE HAD 12 TO 15 GALLONS OF FUEL. HE THEN DEPARTED WITH THE INTENTION OF FLYING TO A NEARBY SEAPLANE BASE APPROXIMATELY 12 NAUTICAL MILES NORTHWEST WHERE HE PLANNED TO PURCHASE FUEL. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AND AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 300 TO 400 FEET AGL THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO THE LAKE SURFACE. DURING HIS DESCENT HE ENTERED AN AREA OF FOG AND DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY HE 'COULD NOT JUDGE WHEN TO FLARE' AND A HARD LANDING FOLLOWED. THE FUEL SYSTEM LINES WERE FOUND TO BE INTEGRAL WITHOUT BREACHES, AND AIRCRAFT RECOVERY PERSONAL REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, WHILE THE WINGS WERE BEING REMOVED, THEY FOUND NO FUEL IN EITHER FUEL BLADDER.  SUBSEQUENT TO THE AIRCRAFT'S RECOVERY TO A NEARBY AIRPORT, TOTAL FUEL AMOUNTS OF 6 OUNCES, 1 OUNCE, AND LESS THAN ONE OUNCE WERE DRAINED RESPECTIVELY FROM THE LOW POINT FUEL FILTER, FUEL LINE LINKING THE BOOST PUMP TO THE ENGINE, AND FROM THE HEADER TANK LOW POINT DRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5391R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5391R-2013-06-27), registration cancelled 2013-06-27, S/N 18503033, built 1976 (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: 18503033
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Johnson, Everett H.
- Registered owner: Johnson, Everett H.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 1992
- Destination: S60, KENMORE, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; flight engineer, foreign, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 12,500 total, 500 in this make and model, 11,600 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm

## 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 19930130001219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930130001219A), Jan 30, 1993: Cessna A185F, Inglewood, WA, Substantial damage. Checked fuel. Figured ok departed to obtain fuel at marina 12MI away. Engine quit unable flare, hit water. No fuel.

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.