Cessna 185 Crash 2007

The Cessna 185 aircraft was moved from the hangar to a small lake adjacent to the airport where the pilot pre-flighted the aircraft for a short (5 mile) re-positioning flight to a larger lake where the aircraft could be re-fueled for a post-maintenance test flight. The pilot recognized that the left wing fuel gauge was just above empty and the right wing fuel gauge indicated less than ¼ tank. Due to the short distance between the lakes and the need to be as light as practical to take off from the small lake, the pilot accepted the low fuel gauge indications without physically checking the fuel quantity (dipping the tanks). The pilot performed a proper run-up, received a take-off clearance, adjusted the fuel selector lever to the "both" position and took off. Within three minutes after take off the engine failed. The pilot attempted to re-start the engine but was unsuccessful. The pilot made an emergency landing on a small pond, but after touchdown, due to the size of the pond, the aircraft left the pond, hit an embankment and became briefly airborne and flipped over. The pilot was able to egress by himself and use his cell phone to summon help.

Non Fire, Equipment, Fixed Wing Incident or Accident