Cessna A185E accident near Giddings, Texas, October 24, 1996
On October 24, 1996 at about 9:07 pm local time, a Cessna A185E, registered N185XX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Giddings, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power as result of an oil leak due to a pinched 'O' ring in the oil filter. Factors were the improper installation of the oil filter, and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 1996 · about 9:07 pm local time
- Place
- Giddings, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185E · all A185Es on the register
- Registration
- N185XX · no longer on the register · serial 1851261
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The engine lost power after the pilot reported to ATC that the engine oil pressure was dropping, subsequently reporting an overheating engine. The pilot requested vectors to the nearest airport; however, radio and radar contact were lost during the airplane's descend when 10 miles east of the airport. The aircraft touched down on a westerly heading in a field about 5 miles east of the airport. The pilot stated that the engine oil was changed by maintenance personnel at his hangar on the previous day and this was the first flight after completion of maintenance. An engine run up was not performed due to inclement weather on the day of the oil change. Examination of the engine revealed that an 'O' ring seal (P/N CI48100-8) installed on the cap of the oil filter was pinched during installation thus allowing the engine oil to leak during operation to the engine. According to the engine records, the engine was modified on December 5, 1995 with the installation of an 'Ultimate Engine Oil Filter' (Part number SA8922SW21) manufactured by Capehart Industries Inc., of Mena, Arkansas, under an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate dated July 21, 1994. The pilot purchased the airplane in April 1995.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 300 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,100 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 23, 1996; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AXH Houston TX at 8:10 pm
- Destination: AUS Austin TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2.5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from AUS, 47 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.