- Date
- December 4, 2009, 10:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place
- Carmi, IL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- C-GZYUCessna 182
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 23, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-SPI-FSDO
- Case key
- 75143
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's failure to assure that the fuel tank filler cap was secured prior to flight.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the airplane, which was equipped with long range fuel tanks, had been fully fueled five days prior to the flight. After 3.8 hours of flight time, the engine began to surge then lost power. After unsuccessful attempts at restarting the engine, the pilot made an off-airport forced landing during which the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination determined that the right fuel cap was missing, although the chain and spring clip were still in place. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to act as a safety aircraft for Operation Migration. She stated that most of the flying involves making right-hand turns, which results in a higher fuel quantity in the right tank than in the left. The right fuel quantity indicator was indicating 3/8 to 1/2 tank of fuel and the left fuel tank was lower when the engine lost power. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger viewed the top of the wings twice after the airplane was fueled: once to install the canopy cover and again to remove the canopy cover. The fuel cap was not checked for security nor was the fuel level visually checked after the airplane was fueled five days prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported the airplane, which was equipped with long range fuel tanks, had full fuel tanks prior to the flight. After 3.8 hours of flight time, the engine began to surge then lost power. An off airport forced landing was made during which time the airplane nosed over. When the airplane was righted, it was discovered that the right fuel cap was missing, although the chain and spring clip were still in place. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to act as a safety aircraft for Operation Migration. She stated that most of the flying involves making right hand turns which results in a higher fuel quantity in the right tank than in the left. The right fuel quantity indicator was indicating 3/8 to 1/2 tank of fuel and the left fuel tank was lower when the engine lost power. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger viewed the top of the wings twice after the airplane was fueled. Once to install the canopy cover and again to remove the canopy cover. The fuel cap was not checked for security nor was the fuel level visually checked after the airplane was fueled five days prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- C-GZYU
- Reported as
- Cessna 182 (Q)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 182-66301
- Airframe hours
- 2,394
- Engine
- Continental O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Donald Lounsbury
- Registered owner
- Donald Lounsbury
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 7, 2009
- Departed
- 1H2 · Effingham, IL
- Destination
- 1H2 · Effingham, IL
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,377 total · 410 in this make and model · 2,452 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Other flight crew
- Age
- 71
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,495 total · 510 in this make and model · 1,429 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 32 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.28 inHg
- Observed at
- CUL, 5 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 28, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 6.5 MB in all.