Cessna A185F accident near Monument Hills, California, June 12, 2024
On June 12, 2024 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna A185F, registered N8WF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monument Hills, California (Watts-Woodland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 2024 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Monument Hills, California · Watts-Woodland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F, built 1976 · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8WF · registry record · serial 18503001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he departed on the 20-nautical-mile flight with 70 gallons of fuel onboard. About 5 miles from the destination airport, the engine lost total power, and the pilot selected a field for a forced landing. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder and right wing. Data downloaded from the airplane’s engine monitor indicated that the airplane departed with about 66 gallons of fuel and flew for about 29 minutes when the engine lost power. The last recorded data point indicated about 52 gallons of fuel remaining. Recovery personnel stated that when they arrived at the accident site, they observed fuel leaking from the airplane and recovered 30 gallons of fuel from the airplane. Samples did not indicate evidence of fuel contamination. Based on the flight time, the airplane’s estimated fuel consumption, and the amount of fuel recovered from the airplane, it was likely that sufficient fuel was available for the flight. Examination of the airplane and fuel-injected engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the 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
- 400341 during undetermined
- 600440 during other
- 552096 during descent - emergency
- 990000 during 990
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Miscellaneous › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, AME, ASE, APLN, none
- Flight time: 4,506 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 4,482 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 29, 2022
- Medical certificate: class 1
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,240 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, November 23, 2023; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 2,240 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA at 5:40 pm
- Destination: O41 Woodland CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°C, dew point 61°C
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from KDWA, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KDWA 121755Z AUTO 07005KT 10SM CLR 31/16 A2983 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR24LA193.