Cessna 180D accident near Islesboro, Maine, February 5, 1996
On February 5, 1996 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 180D, registered N6423X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Islesboro, Maine (Isleboro airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 5, 1996 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Islesboro, Maine · Isleboro
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180D · all 180Ds on the register
- Registration
- N6423X · no longer on the register · serial 18050923
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner stated that the preflight and engine run-up were normal, and he departed from runway 19 which is 2400 feet long. At approximately 500 feet above the ground, the airplane's engine began to run rough. The pilot reversed course to make a forced landing on runway 1 with a 10 knot tailwind. The engine subsequently lost complete power; however, a burst of power occurred afterwards. According to the pilot, the airplane overshot the runway. He avoided power lines, and then the aircraft 'mushed' into trees about 1/4 mile north of the runway. A witnesses observed black smoke coming from the engine during the airplane's return to the airport. Examination of the engine and the fuel system revealed no evidence of malfunction.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 790 hours in all; 426 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 621 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,791 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 27, 1995; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470R-6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 57B at 7:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 14°F (-10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from RKD, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.