Cessna A185F accident near La Mesa, California, July 9, 2023
On July 9, 2023 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1974 Cessna A185F, registered N1839R, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near La Mesa, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2023 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- La Mesa, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F, built 1974 · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N1839R · registry record · serial 18502554
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed the airport to relocate the airplane to another nearby airport. The pilot calculated he would need about 5 gallons of fuel to complete the flight. The pilot stated he planned to refuel at another local airport. He stated that one month before the accident, the fuel tanks were filled. He reported that he did not visually check each tank's fuel level during his preflight, but the fuel gauges indicated there was about 16 gallons of fuel on board. About 1,700 ft mean sea level (msl), the pilot reported that the engine had lost power during cruise flight. The engine briefly gained power for about 10 seconds before losing all power again. The pilot decided to land the airplane in a residential area and the right wing struck a powerline on landing approach and crash-landed in a parking lot. Subsequently, the airplane struck a fence and dense vegetation and came to rest in a ravine. The airplane's fuselage and wings were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical anomalies. Due to the damage sustained to the engine, an engine run was not performed. Since the pilot did not visually inspect the amount of fuel in both tanks before the accident flight, it is possible that the engine had a fuel starvation or exhaustion event due to an unreliable fuel gauge; however, the reason for the total loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,544 hours in all; 857 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 14, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,573.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2022; 11.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520D (piston); 2,573 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA at 9:50 pm
- Destination: SDM San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KMYF, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMYF 092153Z 25009KT 10SM CLR 23/14 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP125 T02280144
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on July 23, 2025. 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 Interview | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Follow-up Engine Examination Summary | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Engine Monitor Device - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Attachment 1 to Engine Monitor Device - Specialist's Factual Report - Tabular Data | data file | Download |
| 7 | GPS Track (Plot) | map file | Download |
| 8 | GPS Plot File | spreadsheet | Download |
| 9 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | 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.