Accident Overview
On July 9, 2023, at about 1500 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna A185F (registration N1839R) sustained substantial damage during an accident near La Mesa, California. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight Details
The pilot departed Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MYF) in San Diego, California, around 1450, intending to relocate the airplane to Brown Field Municipal Airport (SDM). According to the fuel gauges, the aircraft had 16 gallons of fuel remaining, with a total capacity of 74 gallons. The pilot estimated needing about 5 gallons for the flight. He did not refuel before departure, planning to do so at another local airport. The fuel tanks had been filled approximately one month earlier. The pilot reported that he did not visually inspect the fuel level during preflight.
Power Loss and Emergency Landing
While cruising at about 1,700 ft mean sea level, the engine lost all power. It momentarily regained power for about ten seconds, then lost it again. The pilot executed the emergency engine failure checklist and prepared for an off-airport landing on a nearby road in a residential area. During approach, the right wing struck a powerline. The aircraft crash-landed in a parking lot, collided with a fence and dense vegetation, and came to rest in a ravine. The fuselage and both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported turning off the master switch after observing fuel leaking from a breach in the left wing.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident inspection of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies. The fuel system was traced from each wing tank to the fuel servo at the engine via the fuel selector, which rotated normally and was unobstructed. Undamaged fuel lines remained secure. Mechanical continuity was confirmed throughout the rotating group, valvetrain, and accessory section when the crankshaft was manually rotated. Thumb compression was achieved at all six cylinders, and valve lift appeared normal. Borescope examination of cylinder combustion chambers showed normal piston face and valve signatures, with no signs of catastrophic failure.
Review of carburetor icing conditions using the temperature and dew point at the time indicated that the airplane was not susceptible to carburetor icing at cruise power.
Engine Data Analysis
Downloaded data showed exhaust gas temperatures (EGTs) operating around 1,340°F in all cylinders. At 14:58:39, about two minutes before the power loss, EGTs increased slightly then dropped to about 900°F. At 14:58:54, about one minute before the flight ended, all EGTs rose again, peaking around 1,300°F before falling to about 200°F.