# Accident 19970303010219A: Cessna 182E, Huntsville, AL, March 3, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 3, 1997, 19:41 local time
- Place: Huntsville, AL
- Airport: Redstone Aaf Base
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.5708° N, 86.9804° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5708&lon=-86.9804&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3392Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3392Y-1997-10-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 182E (registry code 2072712, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182E
- Reported engine: CONT O470R
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 852 total, 391 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA97LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA096) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970303010219A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE FLIGHT DEPARTED WITH FULL FUEL TANKS AND ABOUT 30 MINUTES THEN 1 HOUR INTO THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPOSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR. ABOUT 1 HOUR 50 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE ENGINE SPUTTERED.  THE PILOT REPOSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR AND ENGINE POWER WAS RESTORED THEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DIVERT TO A NEARBY AIRPORT.  WHILE DESCENDING THE ENGINE QUIT.  AFTER DESCENDING BELOW THE BASE OF THE CLOUDS THE PILOT LOCATED A ROAD AND ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING BUT THE RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH A FENCE.  THE AIRPLANE THEN IMPACTED THE ROAD AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT.  POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED NO FUEL REMAINING IN THE FUEL TANKS WITH BOTH FUEL CAPS IN PLACE.  FUEL LEAKAGE WAS NOT NOTED AT THE SCENE.  EACH FUEL TANK BLADDER WAS REPLACED WITHIN THE PRECEDING 6 YEARS AND THE PILOT REPLACED ONLY THE LEFT FUEL CAP.  EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT FUEL CAP REVEALED THAT THE SEAL WAS CRACKED.  NO ABNORMAL WRINKLES WERE NOTED IN THE FUEL BLADDER CELLS AND EACH BLADDER WAS SECURED BY THE TOP HANGERS.                               (-23) SEE NARRATIVE #MIA97LA096

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA97LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA096), Mar 4, 1997: Cessna 182E (N3392Y), Huntsville, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion for undetermined reasons.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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