# NTSB ATL04LA008: Cessna 182H, N1919X, Knoxville, TN, October 5, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 5, 2003, 03:17 local (07:17 UTC) - Place: Knoxville, TN - Coordinates: 35.966667, -82.315002 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9667&lon=-82.3150&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Nashville FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58095 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58095/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA008 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection by his failure to secure the left fuel tank cap which resulted in fuel exhaustion, and the loss of engine power. ## Analysis The pilot stated that he topped off both fuel tanks prior to departing Knoxville Downtown Island Airport. The airplane had extended range tanks and held 51 gallons of fuel. The pilot stated that there were 12 gallons of fuel in the left tank and 39 gallons of fuel in the right tank. The flight from Knoxville Downtown Island Airport to Auburn-Opelika Airport was uneventful. On the return trip, from Auburn to Knoxville, the pilot switched the fuel lever to the right fuel tank immediately after departure to compensate for the unequal fuel quantities. Approximately 8 miles east of the Knoxville Downtown Island Airport at 2500 feet, the airplane engine began to sputter and the pilot stated that he moved the fuel lever to the both tanks position. The airplane engine fired, ran shortly and then stopped. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and reported the engine failure to the air traffic controller. The pilot set up the airplane for a slow, full flap descent but was unable to see where to land due to the darkness. The right wing of the airplane struck a tree and the airplane came to rest in a small field. Examination of the airplane revealed the outer section of the right wing and wing strut detached, the nose gear detached and damage to the propeller. Blue fuel stains were found streaking along the top of the left wing and left side of the fuselage, and the left fuel cap was missing. A search for the fuel cap along the crash path and general area of the wreckage was unsuccessful. The examination found no usable fuel in either tank. The fuel caps on this airplane were aftermarket gas caps installed in accordance with STC # SA2376CE. The gas caps are designed to be twisted on and when the cap is completely rotated in a clockwise direction, it will stop in a locked position. The gas cap is visible from the ground but does not have any reference markings to allow a person to visually determine if the gas caps are properly locked in place. During the pilot's post-accident interview and his written statement, he did not report securing the fuel caps during the preflight inspection. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 2003, at 0317 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182H, N1919X, registered to the J-Matt Corp., and operated by the private pilot, collided with trees during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power 7 miles northeast of the Knoxville Downtown Island Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Auburn-Opelika Airport in Auburn, Alabama, on October 5, 2003, at 0100. The pilot stated that he topped off both fuel tanks prior to departing Knoxville Downtown Island Airport. The airplane had extended range tanks and held 51 gallons of fuel. The pilot stated that there were 12 gallons of fuel in the left tank and 39 gallons of fuel in the right tank. The flight from Knoxville Downtown Island Airport to Auburn-Opelika Airport was uneventful. On the return trip, from Auburn to Knoxville, the pilot switched the fuel lever to the right fuel tank immediately after departure to compensate for the unequal fuel quantities. Approximately 8 miles east of the Knoxville Downtown Island Airport at 2500 feet, the airplane engine began to sputter and the pilot stated that he moved the fuel lever to the both tanks position. The airplane engine fired, ran shortly and then stopped. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and reported the engine failure to the air traffic controller. The pilot set up the airplane for a slow, full flap decent but was unable to see where to land due to the darkness. The right wing of the airplane struck a tree and the airplane came to rest in a small field. Examination of the airplane revealed the outer section of the right wing and wing strut detached, the nose gear detached and there was damage to the propeller. Blue stains were found streaking along the top of the left wing and left side of the fuselage, and the left fuel cap was missing. A search for the fuel cap along the crash path and general area of the wreckage was unsuccessful. The examination found no usable fuel in either tank. The fuel caps on this airplane were aftermarket gas caps installed in accordance with STC # SA2376CE. The gas caps are designed to be twisted on and when the cap is completely rotated in a clockwise direction, it will stop in a locked position. The gas cap is visible from the ground but does not have any reference markings to allow a person to visually determine if the gas caps are properly locked in place. During the pilot's post-accident interview and his written statement, he did not report securing the fuel caps during the preflight inspection. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - fuel system,cap - missing - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command - fuel system,cap - not secured (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - none suitable ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1919X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1919X-2015-05-20), registration cancelled 2015-05-20, S/N 18256019, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182H - Registry model: [Cessna 182H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182h) (registry code 2072718) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18256019 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jerry L. Norton - Registered owner: J-Matt Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AUO, Auburn, AL - Destination: DKX, Knoxville, TN - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: DKX, Knoxville Downtown Island ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 250 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: TYS, 7 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 20031005037479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031005037479A), Oct 5, 2003: Cessna 182H, Knoxville, TN, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot statement: on oct. 5, 2003 at approximately 0715Z, my Cessna 182H (N1919X) ran out of fuel and crashed while on a return trip from auburn, Alabama… ## Other investigations on N1919X (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 MKC66D0125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC66D0125), Jun 16, 1965: Cessna 182 (N1919X), St Louis, MO, substantial damage 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.