Cessna 205 accident near Wagoner, Oklahoma, October 4, 2018
On October 4, 2018 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1963 Cessna 205, registered N8495Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Wagoner, Oklahoma (Hefner-Easley airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Maintenance personnel’s improper maintenance of the magnetos, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 2018 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wagoner, Oklahoma · Hefner-Easley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 205 A, built 1963
- Registration
- N8495Z · no longer on the register · serial 2050495
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a post maintenance flight after the airplane's annual inspection, the pilot made about three circuits around the airport area before departing to continue flight maneuvers and performance checks. He started a left turn and then noticed a “very minor engine mis[fire]." As the pilot continued the turn, the "engine mis[fire]" began to increase and the engine began to shake. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude and was descending about 150-300 ft per minute. Although the pilot made multiple attempts to regain engine power, the engine lost total power. The airplane impacted trees and brush; during the landing sequence, the left and right wings buckled. Following the accident, an engine run was performed; after running for 13 minutes, the engine lost power. Troubleshooting of the magnetos found that the right magneto was firing erratically. The right magneto was replaced with a known-good magneto and the engine was subsequently successfully test run at full power. More detailed testing of both magnetos revealed that they failed the manufacturer’s acceptance test procedures due to excessive point gaps and secondary coil resistance. A review of the engine logbooks revealed the magneto points and condensers were replaced about 18 years and about 230 flight hours before the accident flight. Given the available information, it is likely that maintenance personnel did not perform proper maintenance of the magnetos.
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 maneuvering
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Not serviced/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,450 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1,377 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 17, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,862.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 31, 2018; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470S (piston); 1,019 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H68 Wagoner OK at 10:55 pm
- Destination: H68 Wagoner OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,401 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on January 20, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Magneto Test Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.