# NTSB CEN10CA400: Cessna 182R, N9797H, Thayer, IN, July 14, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 14, 2010, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Thayer, IN - Coordinates: 41.171112, -87.33583 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1711&lon=-87.3358&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-SBN-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76642 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA400 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76642/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76642 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA400 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to visually check the fuel supply prior to takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 182R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=2072731), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072731), [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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182R, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072731), [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 182R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072731), [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 182R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072731), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182R, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072731), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that when checking the fuel gauges he noted that they were indicating more fuel than should have been on board. He asked airport personnel for a ladder so he could visually check the fuel level, but then he became distracted and forgot to visually check the fuel. After approximately 1 hour 30 minutes of flight the engine lost power. The pilot selected a field in which to land; however, the airplane contacted irrigation equipment during the landing flare. Postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks were intact but empty. Both wings and the firewall were substantially damaged. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that when checking the fuel gauges he noted that they were indicating more fuel than should have been on board. He asked airport personnel for a ladder so he could visually check the fuel level, but then he became distracted and forgot to visually check the fuel. After approximately 1 hour 30 minutes of flight the engine lost power. The pilot selected a field in which to land; however, the airplane contacted irrigation equipment during the landing flare. Postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks were intact but empty. Both wings and the firewall were substantially damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9797H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9797H-2012-06-18), registration cancelled 2012-06-18, S/N 18268031, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182R - Registry model: [Cessna 182R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182r) (registry code 2072731) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18268031 - Airframe hours: 5678 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D187 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wilson Gordon N - Registered owner: Wilson Gordon N - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 2009, 15 hours before - Departed: I69, Batavia, OH - Destination: C56, Monee, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 9, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,865 total, 1,621 in this make and model, 1,865 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,400 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: GYY, 32 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 20100714038669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100714038669A), Jul 14, 2010: Cessna 182R, Roselawn, IN, Substantial damage. At the accident site, no fuel could be drained out of both fuel tanks. They appeared empty. Telephone conversation with PIC revealed that he did not do a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76642. 991 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 912 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Interview (item 2, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334285&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-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.