# NTSB CHI02LA026: Cessna 182A, N3916D, Wahoo, NE, November 10, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 10, 2001, 16:29 local (22:29 UTC) - Place: Wahoo, NE - Coordinates: 41.209346, -96.619171 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2093&lon=-96.6192&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53762 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53762/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA026 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation resulting in fuel exhaustion during cruise flight, and the unsuitable terrain for landing encountered by the pilot during the subsequent forced landing. Factors relating to the accident were the pilot's inadequate fuel calculations, fuel exhaustion, and the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis While northeast of Lincoln, Nebraska, the pilot reported to the Lincoln Municipal Airport (LNK) Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) that he had bottomed out on fuel. ATCT issued the pilot vectors to the Wahoo Municipal Airport, Wahoo, Nebraska. The pilot reported he had the airport in sight but was not going to be able to make it. The airplane impacted trees and terrain 3 miles west of AHQ. An examination of the airplane's fuel system showed no evidence of fuel. An examination of the airplane's engine and remaining systems showed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On November 10, 2001, at 1629 central standard time, a Cessna 182A, N3916D, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing when it impacted trees and terrain 3 miles west of the Wahoo Municipal Airport (AHQ), Wahoo, Nebraska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted on a visual rules flight plan under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The cross-country flight originated at Denver, Colorado, at 1215 mountain standard time, and was en route to Omaha, Nebraska. In his written statement, the pilot said, "At the time I was just Northeast of the Lincoln [Nebraska] area, I requested from Lincoln approach a reduction in altitude from 7,500 to 5,000 feet. They stated that I was cleared to descend to appropriate VFR altitudes. I began to begin to reduce power to set up a 500 [feet] per minute descent rate, and experienced immediate engine failure. I again contacted Lincoln approach and notified them that I had a problem and I may have even mentioned a possible fuel problem." The pilot said he received vectors to AHQ. "A few moments later, I realized that the airport was not an obtainable landing site, I informed Lincoln approach that I could not make it to the airport and that I was going down." The pilot said he spotted a plowed field off to his left and made a turn toward it for landing. The pilot then noticed a row of trees between him and the field. "As airspeed and altitude rapidly diminished, I realized that I would need to put the aircraft down prior to reaching the trees." The pilot said, "My position was ... 15 to 20 feet above the ground and stalling the aircraft seemed almost imminent. The airspeed indicator wasnow showing just under 40. I remember lowering the nose to attempt to hit into the dirt prior to the trees and seem to remember a bounce and hitting up against the trees." The Lincoln Municipal Airport Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) reported that the airplane was 10 miles west of AHQ when the pilot reported that he had bottomed out on fuel. At 1629, the pilot reported he had the airport in sight but was not going to be able to make it. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The airplane rested among trees in a field 3 miles west of AHQ. The airplane's engine was broken off at the firewall. The nose gear was broken aft. The left wing was broken aft at the wing root. The right wing was bent aft. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the carburetor and fuel system lines showed no evidence of fuel. An examination of the airplane's engine and remaining systems showed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3916D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3916D-2004-03-17), registration cancelled 2004-03-17, S/N 34616, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182A - 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: 34616 - Airframe hours: 3256.7 - Engines: Continental O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vincent Brian Botsko - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2001, 63.6 hours before - Departed: BJC, Denver, CO - Destination: MLE, Omaha, NE - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 12, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 389 total, 173 in this make and model, 341 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: LNK, 24 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 20011110033039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011110033039A), Nov 10, 2001: Cessna 182A, Wahoo, NE, No damage. (-23) On November 10, 2001, at 1215 MST, Cessna 182A, N3916D, departed denver, Colorado, for omaha millard airport under a VFR flight plan. At or about 1630… ## Other investigations on N3916D (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN80DTM12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80DTM12), Apr 11, 1980: Cessna 182 (N3916D), Cedar City, UT, substantial damage 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.