ATL02LA127

The pilot stated she refueled the airplane twice before departing on the VFR flight. She completed a preflight inspection of the airplane after the first refueling. She requested an additional 5 gallons of fuel be added to the right main fuel tank. She did not conduct another preflight inspection to ensure the fuel had been added or check the fuel cap before she departed. The pilot reported that she did not recheck the fuel caps after the second refueling. The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power in cruise flight. A forced landing was made to a field. The airplane collided with plowed furrows on landing flare/touchdown, and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of a pre crash mechanical malfunction. The left and right main fuel tanks were not ruptured and no fuel was present in either fuel tank. Fuel streaking was present on the top of the right wing and the right main fuel cap was not secured.

On June 19, 2002, about 1400 central daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, N759TY, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a reported loss of engine power in the vicinity of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, and nosed over during a forced landing to an open field. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and commercial rated passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from Hot Springs, Arkansas, at 1154.

The pilot stated she was in cruise flight at 4,000 feet when the engine quit and started again by itself. The engine did this two more times and the airplane started to lose altitude. She activated her GPS to determine the nearest airport. The computer indicated an airport was 8 miles north of their location. She realized she could not make the airport and initiated a forced landing to a field. On touch down the airplane collided with plowed furrows and nosed over inverted.

The post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed that the left and right fuel tanks were not ruptured. The left main fuel tank had a tight seal and the fuel tank was empty. The right fuel cap was loose and there was evidence of fuel streaking on the top of the right wing. No fuel was present in the right main fuel tank. About 6 ounces of fuel was drained from the gascolator. The airplane also sustained damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer.

The pilot reported that she refueled the airplane twice before departing on the visual flight. She completed a preflight inspection after she refueled the first time and visually checked the fuel cap. She decided to add more fuel to the airplane before she departed. The refueler added the fuel but the pilot did not check the fuel caps before she departed.