# NTSB WPR25LA298: Cessna 185A, N186X, Ilwaco, WA, September 27, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 27, 2025, 09:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Ilwaco, WA · Open Field - Coordinates: 46.3071, -123.9655 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3071&lon=-123.9655&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 201751 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA298 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201751/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201751 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA298 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072804), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072804), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072804), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072804), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2072804), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Cessna 185A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=2072804), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 185A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072804), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 185A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072804), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 185A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072804), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that about 2 miles east of the destination airport the engine began to run rough. He elected to make a precautionary landing to an open field, while on approach to land, the engine lost all power. During the landing roll the airplane impacted a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that the fuel tanks contained no usable fuel. The pilot stated that during his preflight inspection, he did not visually verify the fuel levels in the fuel tanks and relied on the fuel analyzer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N186X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N186X), registered now, S/N 1850437, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185A - Registry model: [Cessna 185A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185a) (registry code 2072804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-G1C5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-g1c5) (registry code 41643, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1850437 - Year built: 1962 - Airframe hours: 113.4 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-G1C5 290 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 2025 - Departed: 1W1, Camas, WA - Destination: 7W1, Ilwaco, WA - Airport: 7W1, Port Of Ilwaco - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 15, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 28,600 total, 113.4 in this make and model, 15,100 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 5.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KAST, 10 nm away - METAR: METAR KAST 271655Z AUTO 12003KT 10SM CLR 15/12 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP110 T01500122 $= ## 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 20250927021579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250927021579A), Sep 27, 2025: Cessna 185A, Ilwaco, WA, Substantial damage. The pilot reported that about 2 miles east of the destination Airport the engine began to run rough. He elected to make a precautionary landing to an open… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201751. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19414010&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19403829&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19403457&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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. --- 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.