# NTSB CEN21LA010: Cessna TR182, N5196S, Bridgeport, TX, October 4, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 4, 2020, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Bridgeport, TX - Coordinates: 33.147265, -97.82892 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1473&lon=-97.8289&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102114 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102114/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102114 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA010 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which led to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power. ## 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 TR182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna TR182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna TR182, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during cruise flight he encountered engine problems, which were followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot decided to perform a forced landing, during which the right wing was substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that neither the left nor the right fuel tank had fuel. The pilot stated that, before departure, the left tank was about one-half full, and the right tank was nearly empty. Thus, the pilot was aware of the low fuel state of the airplane but thought that the airplane would have enough fuel for the flight. Because no usable fuel remained on the airplane, the circumstances of the accident were consistent with fuel exhaustion resulting in the total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On October 4, 2020, about 1215 central daylight time, a Cessna TR182 airplane, N5196S, was substantially damage when it was involved in an accident near Bridgeport, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 cross-country flight. According to information collected by investigators, the airplane departed from Stephenville Clark Regional Airport (SEP), Stephenville, Texas, and was in cruise flight at 4,500 ft mean sea level, en route to the Bridgeport Municipal Airport (XBP). The pilot reported that when the airplane was about 17 nautical miles south of the airport, he encountered engine problems followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot switched from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank but was unable to restore engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, during which the right wing sustained substantial damage. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident site and was unable to drain any fuel out from the fuel tanks. The inspector did not detect the smell of fuel at the site or observe fuel staining around the airplane. The left and right fuel gauges indicated that the tanks were empty. The fuel tanks did not appear to be compromised, and no other anomalies with the airplane were discovered that would have precluded normal operation. When a recovery team removed the wings to transport the airplane from the accident site, no fuel was found in either wing. The pilot and passenger told the FAA inspector that, before departing from SEP, the left tank was about one-half full and that the right tank was nearly empty. The pilot stated that he considered purchasing fuel before departure but decided that there would be enough fuel for the planned flight. The pilot also stated that he did not check the fuel quantity visually or with a dipstick before the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5196S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5196S), registered now, S/N R18201516 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA TR182 - Registry model: [Cessna TR182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tr182) (registry code 2072735) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R18201516 - Year built: 1980 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ray Partnership Management LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SEP, Stephenville, TX - Destination: XBP, Bridgeport, TX - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; seat: front; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: KXBP, 2 nm away - METAR: KXBP 041815Z AUTO 04009G14KT 10SM CLR 24/06 A3026 RMK AO2 T02420056 ## 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 20201004016959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201004016959A), Oct 4, 2020: Cessna TR182, Bridgeport, TX, Substantial damage. Inspector?s statement At the scene of the accident, the aircraft was facing south sitting on the left main landing gear and the aircraft fuselage on the right… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102114. 1.5 MB in all. - NTSB form 6120 not submitted (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14580598&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Form%206120%20not%20submitted-Rel.pdf - Case findings (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14583811&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CASE%20FINDINGS%20CEN21LA010-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14580628&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20CEN21LA010-Rel.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.