# NTSB WPR12LA263: Cessna A185F, Winnett, MT, June 13, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 12, 2012, 20:34 local (Jun 13, 2012, 02:34 UTC)
- Place: Winnett, MT
- Coordinates: 47.011943, -108.353614 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0119&lon=-108.3536&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 12, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83969
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA263
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83969/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83969
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA263

## Probable cause

A momentary loss of engine power, which led to an emergency descent at night during which the airplane collided with a wire. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined because postaccident examination and operation did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Mental/emotional state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022500): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022500/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he recently purchased the accident airplane, which had previously been in storage. Before he departed, the airplane’s fuel tanks were filled and a preflight check revealed no contaminants. During the night flight, the pilot switched fuel tanks, and the engine sputtered and lost power. He attempted to restart the engine while descending toward a highway for a forced landing. After the pilot switched the fuel selector back to the original fuel tank, the engine restarted; however, moments later the airplane struck a transmission wire, which the pilot did not see until the last minute because of the dark lighting conditions. The pilot made a forced landing in a field. The pilot attributed the engine sputtering to undetected water in the fuel system; however, a postaccident examination of the fuel system revealed no contaminants, and operation of the engine showed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that he had “recently lost his wife and had not been thinking correctly.” The pilot did not have a current flight review or medical certificate.

## Factual narrative

On June 12, 2012, at 2034 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A185F, CG-ZVF, registered to Transwest Air Limited Partnership and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage during a landing after a loss of engine power near Winnett, Montana. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed from High River Regional Airport, High River, Alberta, Canada, and was destined for Billings Logan International Airport, Billings, Montana. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot was interviewed following the accident. He reported that he had recently lost his wife and had not been thinking correctly. He indicated that he likely would not have made the flight under normal circumstances. The pilot did not hold a current medical or flight review. He purchased the stored airplane in Canada and did not file a required flight plan upon his departure. Before takeoff, the fuel tanks were filled to capacity and the pilot drained fuel samples from all of the fuel tanks. He did not identify water or other contaminants. While in cruise flight over a highway, the pilot switched fuel tanks and the engine sputtered and then lost power. As the airplane descended, the pilot tried to restart the engine. The airplane continued to descend and the pilot did not see a transmission line until the last minute due to the dark lighting conditions. He switched back to the original tank, attempted to restart the engine again, and it restarted. After the airplane impacted the transmission line, the pilot was able to maneuver the airplane and then landed it on a highway. The pilot attributed the engine sputtering to undetected water in the fuel system. Later operation of the engine and fuel system showed no mechanical anomalies. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator, the right wing impacted a transmission line during the landing, resulting in substantial damage. Post accident fuel sampling identified no fuel contaminants. A flight plan or flight itinerary is required in Canada when pilots are more than 25 nautical miles from the departure airport or when operating between Canada and a foreign country.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CG-ZVF (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 185-03202
- Airframe hours: 12159
- Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robin Johnson
- Registered owner: Transwest Air Limited Partnership
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 7, 2012, 6 hours before
- Departed: CEN4, High River
- Destination: KBIL, Billings, MT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 1990; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 7,000 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: LWT, 140 nm away

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 17, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83969. 15.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 983 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377531&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386667&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF
- FAA Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF
- Photo 1. Airplane (Provided by FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386632&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Airplane%20(Provided%20by%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2. Wing Damage (Provided by FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386631&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Wing%20Damage%20(Provided%20by%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3. Propeller (Provided by FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386635&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Propeller%20(Provided%20by%20FAA)-Master.PDF

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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