# NTSB CEN15CA125: Cessna 182C, N8997T, Fort Morgan, CO, January 26, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 26, 2015, 12:27 local (19:27 UTC) - Place: Fort Morgan, CO - Coordinates: 40.109165, -103.763053 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1092&lon=-103.7631&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report March 10, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - DEN FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90659 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90659/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90659 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA125 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel planning/management, which resulted in the total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the subsequent forced landing in a pasture. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/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 exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that before departing on the cross-country flight, he determined by visual inspection, that the fuel level was about 1/2-inch below the top of the filler neck on each wing fuel tank. While established in cruise flight, after about 4 hours of flight, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot was unable to restore engine power and a forced landing was made to a nearby pasture. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane collided with a snow-covered depression that caused the airplane to bounce. The airplane subsequently impacted the terrain in a nose low attitude, collapsing the nose landing gear. The engine firewall and right wing sustained substantial damage during the forced landing. A postaccident examination of the airplane established that the wing fuel tanks appeared to be undamaged and void of any useable fuel. During an interview, the pilot acknowledged that the loss of engine power was likely due to fuel exhaustion. He stated that he did not use the Pilot Operating Handbook procedures to lean the fuel mixture during the accident flight. He recently had to replace a burnt engine cylinder valve, so he was operating the engine at a slightly-rich fuel mixture setting to keep the cylinders from overheating. The pilot stated that the airplane departed with about 65 gallons of fuel, which he believed would provide about 5 hours of fuel endurance while maintaining an average fuel consumption rate of 13 gallons per hour. However, following the accident, the pilot acknowledged that he did not properly account for the entire 10 gallons of unusable fuel within the fuel system. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that before departing on the cross-country flight, he determined by visual inspection, that the fuel level was about 1/2-inch below the top of the filler neck on each wing fuel tank. While established in cruise flight, after about 4 hours of flight, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot was unable to restore engine power and a forced landing was made to a nearby pasture. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane collided with a snow-covered depression that caused the airplane to bounce. The airplane subsequently impacted the terrain in a nose low attitude, collapsing the nose landing gear. The engine firewall and right wing sustained substantial damage during the forced landing.A postaccident examination of the airplane established that the wing fuel tanks appeared to be undamaged and void of any useable fuel. During an interview, the pilot acknowledged that the loss of engine power was likely due to fuel exhaustion. He stated that he did not use the Pilot Operating Handbook procedures to lean the fuel mixture during the accident flight. He recently had to replace a burnt engine cylinder valve, so he was operating the engine at a slightly-rich fuel mixture setting to keep the cylinders from overheating. The pilot stated that the airplane departed with about 65 gallons of fuel, which he believed would provide about 5 hours of fuel endurance while maintaining an average fuel consumption rate of 13 gallons per hour. However, following the accident, the pilot acknowledged that he did not properly account for the entire 10 gallons of unusable fuel within the fuel system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8997T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8997T-2018-07-13), registration cancelled 2018-07-13, S/N 52897, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182C - Registry model: [Cessna 182C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182c) (registry code 2072708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 52897 - Year built: 1960 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 9, 2015, 4,100 hours before - Departed: LWC, Lawrence, KS - Destination: BDU, Boulder, CO - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 20, 2014; seat: left; restraint: none; flight hours: 600 total, 200 in this make and model, 600 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: FMM, 14 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 20150126000619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150126000619A), Jan 26, 2015: Cessna 182C, Ft.Morgan, CO, Substantial damage. On 01/26/2015 at approximately 1230 hrs MST, N8997T a Cessna model 182C aircraft sustained substantial damage during an off-field landing near ft. Morgan, CO.… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 6, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90659. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 670 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423194&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation with Pilot (Ted Larson) (item 2, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423195&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot%20(Ted%20Larson)-Master.PDF - Email Correspondence with Pilot (Ted Larson) (item 3, .PDF, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423196&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20Correspondence%20with%20Pilot%20(Ted%20Larson)-Redacted.PDF - Lineman Statement & Fueling Documentation (Hetrick Air Services) (item 4, .PDF, 288 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423197&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Lineman%20Statement%20%26%20Fueling%20Documentation%20%20(Hetrick%20Air%20Services)-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports (item 5, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423198&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-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.