# NTSB CEN09CA245: Cessna R182, N756BZ, Granger, TX, April 11, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 11, 2009, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Granger, TX - Coordinates: 30.740554, -97.344444 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7406&lon=-97.3444&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73632 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA245 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73632/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA245 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to visually verify that sufficient fuel was on board prior to flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incomplete action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 105 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not inspected (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was on the second leg of a cross-country flight when the airplane's engine momentarily decreased in power and then returned to normal. The pilot observed that the airplane's left fuel tank was indicating empty and the right fuel gauge was indicating less than one fourth of a tank. While attempting to return to the departure airport, the engine "sputtered" and lost all power. The pilot elected to leave the landing gear and flaps retracted while executing a forced landing in a ditch. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot and passengers exited unassisted. The airplane's fuselage and left wing sustained structural damage. A visual inspection of the airplane's fuel tanks revealed a residual amount of fuel. The pilot further reported that he did not perform a visual inspection of the airplane's fuel quantity before departure. ## Factual narrative The pilot was on the second leg of a cross-country flight when the airplane's engine momentarily decreased in power and then returned to "normal." The pilot observed that the airplane's left fuel tank was indicating empty and the right fuel gauge was indicating less then one forth a tank. While attempting to return to the departure airport, the engine "sputtered" and lost all power. The pilot elected to leave the landing gear and flaps retracted while executing a forced landing in a ditch. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot and passengers exited unassisted. The airplane's fuselage and left wing sustained structural damage. An on-site visual inspection of the airplane's fuel tanks revealed a residual amount of fuel. The pilot further reported that he did not perform a visual inspection of the airplane's fuel quantity before departure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N756BZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N756BZ-2010-04-21), registration cancelled 2010-04-21, S/N R18201033, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA R182 - Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R18201033 - Airframe hours: 4841 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Aurora Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Aurora Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 2, 2008 - Departed: GTU, Georgetown, TX - Destination: LHB, Hearne, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 23, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,013 total, 9 in this make and model, 793 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg ## 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 20090411006809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090411006809A), Apr 11, 2009: Cessna 182, Waco, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 11, 2009, a Cessna aircraft, registration number N756BZ, s/n 01033, ran out of fuel and landed along side of [privacy data omitted] then slid… 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.