Event NYC96LA074

Factual narrative

On March 11, 1996, about 1120 eastern standard time, a Cessna A185E, N712MY, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees during a forced landing, near Shirley, Maine. The commercial pilot received minor injuries, and the three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that departed the Greenville Municipal Airport, Greenville, Maine, about 1030. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to survey timber property. Prior to departure it was determined that the right and left fuel tanks had 10 and 15 gallons of fuel respectively. The takeoff was performed with the fuel selector valve selected to the both position. About 5 minutes after departure, the pilot switched the fuel selector valve from the both to right position. The flight continued for approximately 45 minutes with the fuel selector selected to the right fuel tank, at which time the engine lost total power as the pilot executed a right turn. The pilot then performed a forced landing, during which the airplane struck trees and entered a nose down left turn prior to impacting the ground. In a written statement submitted by the pilot, he stated: "I neglected to switch before the tank was completely empty." In the NTSB form 6120.1/2 under recommendations of how this accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated: "Better management of the fuel system. After the engine quit I should have turned the boost pump on and switched to BOTH on the fuel selector, or simply run on BOTH the entire flight." Additionally, the pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. The pilot intended to conduct a survey flight of timber property. The airplane departed with 10 and 15 gallons of fuel in the right and left fuel tanks respectively. About 5 minutes after departure the pilot repositioned the fuel selector valve from the both to right position. The flight was continued for approximately 45 minutes with the fuel selector selected to the right fuel tank. The engine then lost total power as the pilot performed a right turn. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft and stated, 'I neglected to switch before the tank was completely empty.' The pilot further stated that the accident could have been prevented by, 'Better management of the fuel system. After the engine quit I should have turned the boost pump on and switched to BOTH on the fuel selector, or simply run on BOTH the entire flight.' Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12