Plane Crash List

Cessna 185F N1745R

12 May 1991 · Sanford, Maine, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 12 May 1991 at about 18:05 local time, a Cessna 185F registered N1745R, operated by George Grinnall, was involved in an accident near Sanford, Maine, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 18:05
Classification
Accident
Location
Sanford, Maine, United States
Coordinates
Not recorded
Aircraft
Cessna 185F
Registration
N1745R
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
George Grinnall
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Greenville → Derry
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
NYC91LA234

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 1 0

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PROCEDURE BY NOT PLACING THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE TANK WITH THE MOST FUEL, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND A FORCED LANDING IN TREES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT SAID HE HAD FILLED THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND ADDED 10 GALLONS TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK FOR A FLIGHT HE ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 1 HOUR AND 50 MINUTES IN DURATION. ABOUT 40 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION THE PILOT THOUGHT THE FUEL GAGES WERE READING TOO LOW. HE DESCENDED, BANKED THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT IN AN ATTEMPT TO CHECK FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK. THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT WAS TOO LOW TO RESTART THE ENGINE. HE ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING INTO TREES. THE FAA EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE AND FOUND APPROXIMATELY 18 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK AND FOUND THE RIGHT TANK EMPTY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 185 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
6 Jul 1991 Cessna 185A
N5081H
Valdez, Alaska, United States - Minor injuries -
25 May 1991 Cessna 185
N4649E
Sterling, Alaska, United States Ross N. Brudenell Serious injuries -
6 Sep 1991 Cessna 185F
N1074F
Afton, Minnesota, United States Brian D. Larson Minor injuries -
8 Sep 1991 Cessna 185
N1637Z
Duluth, Minnesota, United States Jeff A. Foster Minor injuries -
3 Jul 1991 Cessna 185F
N222WH
Farewell, Alaska, United States William D. Hansen No injuries -
13 Jul 1991 Cessna 185A
N1689Z
Wood River, Alaska, United States Kevin R. O'hara No injuries -

All 1,004 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
20 Jul 1991 Piper PA-11
N4504M
Eagle Lake, Maine, United States
no coordinates
Conrad el Daigle Minor injuries -
28 Jul 1991 Cessna 172P
N5482K
Greenville, Maine, United States
no coordinates
Folsom's Air Service, Inc Minor injuries -
23 Aug 1991 Cessna 150
N22197
Ashland, Maine, United States
no coordinates
Garry Nelson, SR. No injuries -
8 Sep 1991 Taylorcraft BC/2D
N95123
Rangeley, Maine, United States
no coordinates
George S COY Minor injuries -
21 Sep 1991 Lake LA-4
N1012L
Wilton, Maine, United States
no coordinates
Al's Air Service, Inc. No injuries -
2 Feb 1991 Cessna 172P
N62746
Augusta, Maine, United States
no coordinates
Maine Wing Fatal 3

All 170,864 records in United States