Cessna A185E N3399L

Summary

On 14 October 2003 at about 22:00 local time, a Cessna A185E registered N3399L, operated by Lonnie E. Avra, was involved in an accident near Cedarville, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 October 2003 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Cedarville, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

45.9893, -84.3591

Aircraft

Cessna A185E

Registration

N3399L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Lonnie E. Avra

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hessel → Drumman Island

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI04LA023

Nobody was injured.

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor associated with the accident was the rough terrain on which the airplane was landed.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane contacted rough terrain during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported he had 11 gallons of fuel on board for the 15 minute flight and approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, the engine lost power. He reported he activated the fuel pump and the engine momentarily gained power. He stated the fuel selector was on "Both", the left fuel tank was indicating empty, and the right fuel tank was varying between 1/8 and 1/4 full. The pilot reported he was over a heavily wooded area when the engine lost power and he picked out a small clearing in which to land the airplane. He stated the clearing contained logs, rocks, stumps, and ruts, which were contacted during the forced landing. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed 12 gallons of fuel were drained from the right fuel tank and a little over 2 gallons of fuel were drained from the left fuel tank. The fuel selector was found in the "Both" position. The inspection failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction that would have resulted in the loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.