# NTSB CEN14CA124: Cessna R182, N6359T, Mt. Morris, IL, January 25, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 25, 2014, 14:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Mt. Morris, IL - Coordinates: 42.0475, -89.433891 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0475&lon=-89.4339&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 88726 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88726/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88726 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA124 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning and decision-making. ## 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 R182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072734), [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 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) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna R182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/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 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) ## Analysis The commercial rated pilot was repositioning the airplane from Texas to Wisconsin, with an intermediate stop in Missouri. He said he departed Texas with 88 usable gallons of fuel and flew for 3 hours and 10 minutes before landing in Missouri. The pilot purchased 30 gallons of fuel in Missouri but was unsure how many gallons were in the tanks when he departed since he did not visually check the tanks. While en route to Wisconsin, the pilot encountered severe turbulence and a strong crosswind. The pilot said that as he approached his destination airport, the fuel gauges were getting "lower and lower." He said that when he was about 20 minutes from landing (about 2 hours and 45 minutes into the flight), the engine ran out of gas and stopped producing power. The pilot made a forced landing to a snow covered field, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall. According to a mechanic that recovered the airplane, no leaks were observed in the airplane's fuel system and about one pint of fuel was drained from the left wing fuel tank and the right wing fuel tank was empty. ## Factual narrative The commercial rated pilot was repositioning the airplane from Texas to Wisconsin, with an intermediate stop in Missouri. He said he departed Texas with 88 usable gallons of fuel and flew for 3 hours and 10 minutes before landing in Missouri. The pilot purchased 30 gallons of fuel in Missouri but was unsure how many gallons were in the tanks when he departed since he did not visually check the tanks. While en route to Wisconsin, the pilot encountered severe turbulence and a strong crosswind. The pilot said that as he approached his destination airport, the fuel gauges were getting "lower and lower." He said that when he was about 20 minutes from landing (about 2 hours and 45 minutes into the flight), the engine ran out of gas and stopped producing power. The pilot made a forced landing to a snow covered field, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall. According to a mechanic that recovered the airplane, no leaks were observed in the airplane's fuel system and about one pint of fuel was drained from the left wing fuel tank and the right wing fuel tank was empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6359T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6359T-2018-02-28), registration cancelled 2018-02-28, S/N R18201995, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA R182 (NO SERIES) - 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: R18201995 - Year built: 1984 - Airframe hours: 8690 - Engines: Lycoming 0-540 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Gelbach Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Gelbach Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 27, 2013 - Departed: JLN, Joplin, MO - Destination: JVL, Janesville, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 31, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 14,497 total, 608 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 20 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 29.73 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 20140125000759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140125000759A), Jan 25, 2014: Cessna R182, Mount Morris, IL, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted], A commercially rated pilot, was hired to perform test flights and a ferry flight of N6359T, a Cessna 182R (CE-182R). The aircraft was… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 27, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88726. 610 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 395 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410779&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Fred Rose, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410780&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Fred%20Rose,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Written Statement - Mechanic (item 3, .PDF, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410781&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Written%20Statement%20-%20Mechanic-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.