# NTSB CEN10CA067: Cessna 182, Carmi, IL, December 4, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 4, 2009, 10:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: Carmi, IL - Coordinates: 38.089443, -88.154167 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0894&lon=-88.1542&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-SPI-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75143 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75143/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75143 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA067 ## 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 NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management; cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel storage](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 60 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (Q) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 182-66301 - Airframe hours: 2394 - Engines: 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 As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; 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 - Other flight crew; age 71; injuries: none; 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 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 28, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75143. 6.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322940&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.