# NTSB ATL04CA151: Cessna 182A, N3955D, Walterboro, SC, July 10, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 10, 2004, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Walterboro, SC - Coordinates: 32.75, -80.666664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7500&lon=-80.6667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Columbia FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59895 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04CA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59895/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA151 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning of fuel required for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, descent - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - vehicle ## Analysis The pilot stated that after skydivers exited the aircraft, he began a descent from 10,500 feet msl in the direction of the airport. He stated that upon reaching 2000 feet msl, he enriched the mixture, and the engine lost power. He stated he elected to land on a nearby road. The airplane collided with a pick-up truck and departed the road to the right. During the examination of the airplane, there was no fuel leak or fuel odor observed at the scene or on the airframe. There was no fuel present in the left fuel tank and trace amount of fuel recovered in the right fuel tank. During the post-accident examination of the airplane, the fuel tank was refueled and a functional engine run was accomplished. There were no mechanical anomalies noted during the examination of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 10, 2004, at 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182A, N3955D, registered to and operated by Skydive Walterboro, collided with a truck on Highway 17A/Cottageville Highway while attempting an emergency landing in Walterboro, South Carolina. The business flight was conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of accident and no flight plan was filed. The pilot was not injured, and the truck driver was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated at Lowcountry Regional Airport, Walterboro, South Carolina on July 10, 2004, at 1400. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was a skydiving mission. He stated that after skydivers exited the aircraft, he began a descent from 10,500 feet msl in the direction of the airport. He stated that upon reaching 2000 feet msl, he enriched the mixture, and the engine lost power. He stated he turned the airplane directly toward the airport, but realized he would not make it and elected to land on a nearby road. During the emergency landing, the airplane collided with a pick-up truck and departed the road to the right. The pilot stated that his manager refueled the right wing fuel tank prior to the first group of jumpers. The accident flight occurred on the third flight after refueling. The pilot further stated that he departed on the accident flight with 1/4 tank of fuel indicated on the fuel gauges. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the firewall was buckled, the right side of the engine cowling and fuselage were crushed, rivets securing the engine cowling to the fuselage were sheared, the right main landing gear collapsed, the right wing strut was bent, and the right wing tip was partially separated from the wing. There was no fuel leak or fuel odor observed at the scene or on the airframe. There was no fuel present in the left fuel tank and a trace amount of fuel recovered in the right fuel tank. Examination of the engine revealed no visible external or internal component damage. During the post-accident examination of the airplane, the fuel tank was refueled and a functional engine run was accomplished. There were no mechanical anomalies noted during the examination of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3955D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3955D-2020-11-23), registration cancelled 2020-11-23, S/N 34655, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182A - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34655 - Airframe hours: 7168.7 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Skydive Waltersboro - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 3, 2004, 43.6 hours before - Departed: RBW, Waltersboro, SC - Destination: RBW, Waltersboro, SC - Airport: RBW, Low Country Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 1, 9860; seat: left; flight hours: 448 total, 52 in this make and model, 364 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KNBC, 27 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040710018129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040710018129A), Jul 10, 2004: Cessna 182A, Walterboro, SC, Substantial damage. (-23) After dropping off skydivers aircraft was returning to airport and on approach to runway 27 the engine started running rough and then quit. Pilot… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.