Cessna 182 accident near Sawmill, Arizona, July 11, 1985
On July 11, 1985 at about 3:31 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5706B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sawmill, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1985 · about 3:31 pm local time
- Place
- Sawmill, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5706B · no longer on the register · serial 33706
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE PLT'S PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF HIS ACFT, HE REMOVED THE FUEL CAPS TO EXAMINE THE QUANTITY OF FUEL IN THE ACFT'S TANKS. THEREAFTER, HE FAILED TO SECURELY REFASTEN THE CAPS. AT 0700 MST THE PLT & HIS 2 PAX DEPARTED FOR A PLANNED FLT FROM AZ TO CO. 56 GALS OF FUEL WERE REPORTED BEING IN THE FUEL TANKS. ABOUT 90 MIN LATER THE FUEL GAUGES REGISTERED 'IN THE RED' & ALL ENG POWER WAS LOST. THE PLT MADE AN EMERGENCY LDG AT THE SIDE OF A ROAD. DURING ROLL OUT THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES.
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: 975 hours in all; 757 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 875 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DVT Phoenix AZ at 2:00 pm
- Destination: DRO Durango CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 20 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.