Cessna A185F accident near North Vernon, Indiana, April 17, 2021
On April 17, 2021, a 1980 Cessna A185F, registered N19D, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near North Vernon, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper installation of the fuel selector handle, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2021
- Place
- North Vernon, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F, built 1980 · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N19D · registry record · serial 18504097
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After a 100-hour inspection, which the pilot assisted with, he conducted an operational check of the airplane, which included a run-up of the airplane. The mechanic had to leave before the inspection was complete, and the pilot installed portions of the interior which included the fuel selector handle. He then departed the airport and after retracting the landing gear and flaps, the engine lost power. During the forced landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and aft section of the fuselage. Examination of the airplane revealed that fuel was available in the left and right fuel tanks. The examination also found that the fuel selector handle had been installed incorrectly by 90° on the fuel selector shaft. The position of the shaft as found would have restricted all fuel flow from the left and right fuel tanks. The shaft was “keyed” such that the fuel selector handle should only be installed one way; however, the handle partially fit over the stem when not aligned with the key on the shaft and allowed the attaching screw to partially engage on the stem. An engine test run was conducted; the engine started normally and with the engine at full throttle, the fuel selector was placed in the left, right, and both positions. The engine continued to run with no anomalies noted. The airplane was factory equipped with a small header tank that fuel accumulated in before being fed to the engine. The accident is consistent with the fuel selector shaft being in the off position while the selector handle pointed to the left fuel tank. Once the fuel in the airplane’s header tank was exhausted, the engine lost power due to fuel starvation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,107 hours in all; 384 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 992 as pilot in command; 407 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 13, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,825 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 16, 2021
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Echelon Right LLC
The flight
- Departed from: OVO North Vernon IN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from KIMS, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN21LA194.