Cessna A185E accident near Shirley, Maine, March 11, 1996
On March 11, 1996 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Cessna A185E, registered N712MY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shirley, Maine (Greenville Spb airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's fuel mismanagement and improper use of the fuel selector valve which resulted in fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 1996 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Shirley, Maine · Greenville Spb
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185E · all A185Es on the register
- Registration
- N712MY · no longer on the register · serial 185-1387
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot intended to conduct a survey flight of timber property. The airplane departed with 10 and 15 gallons of fuel in the right and left fuel tanks respectively. About 5 minutes after departure the pilot repositioned the fuel selector valve from the both to right position. The flight was continued for approximately 45 minutes with the fuel selector selected to the right fuel tank. The engine then lost total power as the pilot performed a right turn. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft and stated, 'I neglected to switch before the tank was completely empty.' The pilot further stated that the accident could have been prevented by, 'Better management of the fuel system. After the engine quit I should have turned the boost pump on and switched to BOTH on the fuel selector, or simply run on BOTH the entire flight.'
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,100 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,760 as pilot in command; 1,050 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Folsom'S Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: 52B Greenville ME at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.