# NTSB CEN14CA365: Cessna 182A, N2209G, Geneseo, IL, July 2, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 2, 2014
- Place: Geneseo, IL
- Coordinates: 41.440715, -90.150032 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4407&lon=-90.1500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89668
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA365
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89668/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89668
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA365

## Probable cause

The pilot's mismanagement of the available fuel supply, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072704), [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.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was on final approach when the engine started to run out of fuel. She said her boss had a similar problem on a previous flight, and had to correct for it by pitching the nose up and down to force fuel into the fuel lines. The pilot recalled pitching the nose up and down but nothing after that. A witness, who saw the airplane pitching up and down several times before it impacted the ground, responded to the crash. He noted that the fuel selector was set to the "both" position and no fuel was leaking from either fuel tank's gas cap. When the airplane was righted, the witness said he saw several gallons of fuel drain from the left tank but not the right tank. When he visually checked the right fuel tank, it was empty. The left tank had about 9 gallons (about 6.5 gallons usable) still in the tank. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, forward engine mounts, right wing and vertical stabilizer and rudder. About 6 gallons of fuel was drained from the left wing tank and the right tank was empty. A review of the terrain where the airplane impacted the ground revealed the vegetation around the left tank was discolored from fuel, but the area around the right tank was not. No pre mishap mechanical discrepancies were noted with the engine or airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was on final approach when the engine started to run out of fuel. She said her boss had a similar problem on a previous flight, and had to correct for it by pitching the nose up and down to force fuel into the fuel lines. The pilot recalled pitching the nose up and down but nothing after that. A witness, who saw the airplane pitching up and down several times before it impacted the ground, responded to the crash. He noted that the fuel selector was set to the "both" position and no fuel was leaking from either fuel tank's gas cap. When the airplane was righted, the witness saw several gallons of fuel drain from the left tank but not the right tank. When he visually checked the right fuel tank, it was empty. The left tank had about 9 gallons (about 6.5 gallons usable) still in the tank. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, forward engine mounts, right wing and vertical stabilizer and rudder. About 6 gallons of fuel was drained from the left wing tank and the right tank was empty. A review of the terrain where the airplane impacted the ground revealed the vegetation around the left tank was discolored from fuel, but the area around the right tank was not. No pre mishap mechanical discrepancies were noted with the engine or airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2209G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2209G-2018-04-19), registration cancelled 2018-04-19, S/N 51509, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182A (A)
- Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 51509
- Year built: 1958
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Skydiving, Part 91
- Operator: Quad City Skydiving Center Inc
- Registered owner: Quad City Skydiving Center Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 3G8, Geneseo, IL
- Destination: 3G8, Geneseo, IL
- Airport: 3G8, Geneseo Airpark, runway 27, 2,568 × 120 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 233 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 12, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89668. 683 KB in all.

- FAA Inspector's Report (item 1, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416460&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Report-Master.PDF
- Police Report (item 2, .PDF, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416461&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Police%20Report-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 541 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416462&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-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.

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