# NTSB CEN09CA419: Cessna 182Q, N7589S, Ballinger, TX, July 7, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 7, 2009, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Ballinger, TX - Coordinates: 31.774723, -100.036109 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7747&lon=-100.0361&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74225 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA419 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74225/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74225 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA419 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis During his pre-flight check, the pilot estimated that he had eight gallons of fuel on-board the airplane. He departed with the intention of obtaining fuel but by-passed two nearby airfields with fuel service in favor of an airport in the vicinity of the accident location. Prior to reaching his destination and while in cruise flight, the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot selected a field for a forced landing. During the approach to landing, the airplane struck a fence and a tree before coming to rest upright in the field. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the pilot was not injured. The pilot's operating handbook for the Cessna 182 states there are four gallons of usable fuel on board the aircraft. ## Factual narrative During his pre-flight check, the pilot estimated that he had eight gallons of fuel on-board the airplane. He departed with the intention of obtaining fuel but by-passed two nearby airfields with fuel service in favor of an airport in the vicinity of the accident location. Prior to reaching his destination and while in cruise flight, the engine quit due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot selected a field for a forced landing. During the approach to landing, the airplane struck a fence and a tree before coming to rest upright in the field. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the pilot was not injured. The pilot's operating handbook for the Cessna 182 states there are four gallons of usable fuel on board the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7589S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7589S-2010-07-12), registration cancelled 2010-07-12, S/N 18265238, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182Q - Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18265238 - Airframe hours: 5400 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pfau Cory D - Registered owner: Pfau Cory D - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 8, 2008 - Departed: KT88, Colorado City, TX - Destination: E30, Ballinger, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 8, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 310 total, 200 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: KSJT, 33 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 20090707010879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090707010879A), Jul 7, 2009: Cessna 182Q, Ballinger, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 7, 2009, N7589S, a Cessna 182Q, departed Colorado city, Texas (T88) enroute to Ballinger, Texas (E30), experienced fuel exhaustion and was forced… ## Other investigations on N7589S (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 LAX91LA372](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA372), Aug 24, 1991: Cessna 182 (N7589S), Columbia, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74225. 748 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 718 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316466&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316467&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.