Accident Overview
On April 11, 2020, about 2025 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna A185E (N185RN) was substantially damaged after striking trees and a powerline near D&C Fire Lake Flying Club Seaplane Base in Eagle River, Alaska. The pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries; two passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight was a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot-rated passenger in the front right seat, the airplane was returning from a family cabin. The pilot began descent about 5 miles north of Fire Lake, intending to overfly the lake, then turn left base and land on the frozen lake to the north. While maneuvering on a southerly heading over the north side of the lake, the engine suddenly lost all power, but the propeller continued windmilling. The pilot continued the approach for an emergency landing. As he maneuvered left, he said "We are going down," followed by the sound of a stall warning horn. The airplane struck trees and a powerline, then pitched nose-down and struck the ground.
A ground witness observed the airplane fly over the northeast corner of the lake at about 600 ft altitude, heading south, with flaps retracted. He heard a sudden power loss from mid-range cruise, saw the propeller windmilling, then the airplane banked southwest. He noted flaps extended and a forward sideslip. He lost sight briefly, then heard impact.
Wreckage Examination
The airplane came to rest nearly vertical in a residential yard. Wings, fuselage, engine, and empennage were impact damaged. Landing gear appeared extended in ski-down position. FAA inspectors found no fuel on ground or odor; no post-crash fire. The left wing leading edge outboard had struck the ground; the right wing did not. Empennage separated but remained attached by control cables. Both flaps were extended. Fuel selector was in BOTH position. No propeller ground strike marks; propeller damaged.
Fuel line pulled from right wing forward pillar. Left inboard fuel tank cap removed: membrane completely dry. Left outboard cap: membrane showed fuel presence; dip stick showed moisture mark 1.5-2 inches up. Right tank caps not removed. First responders noted minimal fuel spill. Next day, no fuel in either wing. Residual fuel in strainer with minor sediment; no blockages in engine fuel lines. No preimpact malfunctions found.
Flight Data and Fuel Analysis
The pilot-rated passenger reported fuel tanks were sumped before flight; no water or contaminants. They relied on a fuel totalizer and did not dip tanks or visually check fuel levels. He was unsure of last fuel addition; the pilot usually refueled at Birchwood Airport (BCV).
A Garmin GPSMap 495 recovered showed the airplane flew to BCV on March 28, then to the family cabin and back to Fire Lake. On April 4, it flew from Fire Lake to cabin and back. On April 11, it flew from Fire Lake to cabin, and the accident occurred during return. Total flight time since last known BCV arrival: about 4.1 hours.
A JPI Fuel Scan 450 showed preset parameters: single engine, fuel units gallons, tank size 68, fuel remaining 7.7 gallons, fuel used 0. The system depends on user input.
The airplane had two wings, each with 42 gallons total (39 usable); total usable 78 gallons. The Continental IO-550-D engine STC lists fuel flow at full throttle up to 24.9 GPH sea level. Throttle settings on flights unknown. Assuming full usable fuel at BCV departure, average fuel consumption over 4.1 hours would be about 19 GPH. To meet 30-minute VFR reserve per 14 CFR 91.151, the airplane would have needed to burn about 17 GPH if all usable fuel was available for 4.1 hours.