Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ronan, Montana 59864
Thursday, June 25, 1992 13:10 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT HAD EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS UPON POWER REAPPLICATION FOLLOWING IDLE OPERATION SUBSEQUENT TO LANDING ON SEVERAL PREVIOUS OCCASIONS. AFTER DISCUSSING THE SYMPTOMS WITH A MECHANIC, AND DECIDING THAT THE FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM REQUIRED ADJUSTMENT, THE PILOT INITIATED A FLIGHT TO THE MECHANIC'S FACILITY TO CARRY OUT THE INTENDED MAINTENANCE WORK. SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING FOR THE MECHANIC'S AIRSTRIP, AND AT THE COMPLETION OF A 360 DEGREE SPIRALLING DESCENT TO LOSE ALTITUDE PRIOR TO LANDING, THE PILOT REAPPLIED POWER, EXPERIENCED A SURGE AND THEN LOST ENGINE POWER. HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING ON SOFT TERRAIN DURING WHICH THE LEFT MAIN GEAR SEPARATED AFTER THE GEAR BEGAN TO DIG IN DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE FUEL CONTROL METERING UNIT HAD BEEN REPAIRED IN APRIL OF 1991 PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT'S SALE AND RELOCATION FROM NEW MEXICO TO MONTANA IN NOVEMBER 1991.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S OPERATION WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT AND ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: SOFT TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/25/1992
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1310
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City RONAN
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59864
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1250 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID MSO
Elevation of weather observation facility 3201
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 37
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2410
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 25 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1345
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47122
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:01PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4690C
NTSB Number SEA92LA134
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model A185F
Aircraft Series Identifier A185F
Aircraft Serial Number 18502597
Certified Max Gross Weight 3350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 4 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 100
Airframe Hours 4100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MIKKELSEN, ALAN & LYNETTE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14693 HILLSIDE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City ST. IGNATIUS
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59865
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MIKKELSEN, ALAN & LYNETTE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 14693 HILLSIDE ROAD
Operator City ST. IGNATIUS
Operator State MT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 59865
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 52S
Departure City ST. IGNATIUS
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --