# NTSB CEN16LA235: Cessna 182, N5792B, Kankakee, IL, June 26, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 26, 2016, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Kankakee, IL - Coordinates: 41.061389, -87.838607 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0614&lon=-87.8386&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 6, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93490 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA235 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93490/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93490 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA235 ## Probable cause Aa total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from the low level of fuel unporting during a rapid spiraling descent. ## 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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072702), [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. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2072702), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072702), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that, after dropping off skydivers, he made a rapid spiraling descent back to the airport. The pilot added that, because the wind had changed such that it resulted in a tailwind, he initiated a go-around during the landing approach; however, when he advanced the throttle, the engine initially surged and then lost power. The pilot made a forced landing in a corn field near the end of the runway. After the accident, the pilot drained about 7 gallons of fuel from the airplane. Fuel was present in the carburetor, but the gascolator bowl was empty. No other anomalies were noted. It is likely that the low level of fuel unported during the rapid spiraling descent, which led to the subsequent fuel starvation to the engine. ## Factual narrative On June 26, 2016, about 1545 central daylight time, a Cessna 182, N5792B, collided with the terrain during a forced landing in a corn field south of the Greater Kankakee Airport (IKK), Kankakee, Illinois. The pilot was not injured. The airplane received substantial damage to the left wing. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Jacquin Aviation, Inc., as a skydiving flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from IKK about 1515.The pilot reported the accident occurred on the 4th flight of the day. He dropped the skydivers and returned to the airport lining up to land on runway 16, which he had previously used. During the approach, the pilot noticed the wind direction had changed and he now had a tailwind. The pilot initiated a go-around from an altitude of about 200 ft above ground level. He raised the flaps to 30°and advanced the throttle. He reported there was an initial surge in power, then the engine stopped developing power. The pilot made a right turn and landed the airplane in a corn field on the south side of the airport. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector arrived on scene as the pilot was draining the fuel from the airplane. The pilot drained about 7 gallons of fuel from the airplane. The FAA inspector stated there was some fuel in the carburetor bowl when he removed the plug, but the gascolator was empty. No other anomalies were noted which would have resulted in a loss of engine power. The pilot reported he used the carburetor heat during the landing approach and turned it off when he initiated the go-around. The pilot speculated that the low level of fuel most likely unported during his rapid spiraling descent after dropping the skydivers which resulted in fuel starvation to the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5792B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5792B), registered now, S/N 33792, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (F) - Registry model: [Cessna 182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (registry code 2072702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33792 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 7900 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Operator: Jacquin Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Jacquin Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 2016 - Departed: IKK, Kankakee, IL - Destination: IKK, Kankakee, IL - Airport: IKK, Greater Kankakee, runway 16, 4,398 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 5,810 total, 1,650 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: IKK, 1 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 20160626009959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160626009959A), Jun 26, 2016: Cessna 182, Kankanee, IL, Substantial damage. Airplane was on approach for landing on 16, decided to go around due to change in wind direction. Engine stopped when power was applied. Aircraft came to rest… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 19, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93490. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 948 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454340&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversations (item 2, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454341&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations-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.