Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary FTW95LA302

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, USA

Aircraft #1

N42712

CESSNA 182L

Analysis

AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES OF CROSS COUNTRY FLYING, AS THE FLIGHT APPROACHED THE DESTINATION, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT 'THE FUEL GAUGES WERE INDICATING NEARLY EMPTY.' SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE 'QUIT' AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A ROUGH, UNEVEN FIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED NO USABLE FUEL IN THE TANKS.

Factual Information

On July 16, 1995, approximately 1215 central daylight time, a Cessna 182L, N42712, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of power, near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane, owned by the pilot, was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The personal, cross country flight originated from Hardwick Field, Cleveland, Tennessee, at 0805, and was en route to Sundance Airpark, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the flight. The pilot reported that, as the airplane approached Oklahoma City, he noticed that "the fuel gauges were indicating nearly empty" and decided to divert to nearby Expressway Junction Airpark, to refuel. After having difficulty locating Expressway Junction, he decided to continue the flight to his original destination, Sundance Airpark. Prior to reaching Sundance, the engine "quit" and the pilot executed a forced landing to a ROUGH field. Examination of the aircraft revealed no usable fuel in the tanks and structural damage to the firewall. According to the pilot, the airplane has a 78 gallon fuel capacity; however, he measured approximately 73 gallons of fuel on board prior to departure from Cleveland. The airplane was airborne approximately 5 hours and 15 minutes prior to the forced landing.

Probable Cause and Findings

FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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