Pilot Debrief

CESSNA A185F near River Falls, WI — 2009-07-30

Final reportCEN09CA477
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Date
2009-07-30
Location
River Falls, WI, USA
Airport
SGS
Aircraft
CESSNA A185F
Registration
N989DM
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot not checking the security of the fuel caps prior to flight leading to fuel exhaustion and the subsequent non-mechanical loss of engine power during descent.

NTSB narrative

The pilot had the airplane fueled and then departed on a cross country flight. The airplane lost engine power during descent. The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted high vegetation during the forced landing. The pilot stated that he did not check the fuel tank caps before the flight. The fuel tanks did not contain fuel and fuel caps were not in-place on-scene. The airplane's preflight inspection checklist indicate that both fuel tank caps are to be checked for security.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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