# NTSB CHI94LA057: Cessna 182, N4791D, Centerville, IA, December 21, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 21, 1993, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Centerville, IA - Coordinates: 40.729393, -92.869995 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7294&lon=-92.8700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9446 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9446/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA057 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane during the flight. Factors related to the accident were the inaccurate fuel consumption calculations for the airplane and the fence. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - fence (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM GREELEY, COLORADO, TO BURLINGTON, IOWA, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. WHEN 20 MILES FORM CENTERVILLE, IOWA, A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED. THE PILOT SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD AND JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, ENGINE POWER WAS REGAINED. THE PILOT CLIMBED THE AIRPLANE TO 3,000 FT AND HEADED TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 2.5 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT, ENGINE POWER WAS LOST AGAIN. THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED A FENCE AND COLLIDED NOSE DOWN WITH THE TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED 5 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK, THE LEFT TANK WAS EMPTY. THE CARBURETOR BOWL CONTAINED A COUPLE DROPS OF FUEL AND THE GASCOLATOR WAS EMPTY. ## Factual narrative On December 21, 1993, at 1430 central standard time, a Cessna 182, N4791D, registered to Kenneth Harris of Greeley, Colorado, and flown by a private pilot, collided with a fence during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The forced landing was made at the Centerville Airport, Centerville, Iowa. The airplane was substantial damaged. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Greeley, Colorado, on December 21, 1993, at 0930 mountain standard time. The pilot stated this was his first cross country flight in this particular airplane. He reported his preflight fuel calculations showed a consumption of 12 gallons per hour at 2350 rpm. With 55 gallons of usable fuel on board he calculated an endurance of 4.6 hours. The original intended destination was Burlington, Iowa. When 20 miles from the Centerville Airport, the pilot reported, the engine sputtered and quit. He set up for a forced landing in a field and just prior to touching down, engine power was regained. He stated he then climbed to 3,000 feet and headed toward the Centerville Municipal Airport. He stated he located the airport and set up for a long final approach to runway 33. When approximately 2 to 2.5 miles from the airport, engine power was lost once again. He stated he set up for a glide to the airport and added "one notch" of flaps in an attempt to clear a fence just prior to touchdown. The airplane contacted the fence and descended nose first into the terrain. Post accident inspection of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed the left fuel tank was empty and the right fuel tank contained approximately 5 gallons of fuel. The carburetor bowl contained a couple of drops of fuel and the gascolator bowl was empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4791D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4791D), registered now, S/N 34891, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 - 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: 34891 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kenneth Harris, doing business as Light Plane Rentals - Registered owner: Kenneth Harris - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: GXY, GREELEY, CO - Destination: BRL, BURLINGTON, IA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: TVK, Centerville Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 210 total, 8 in this make and model, 183 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: OTM, 37 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 19931221047119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931221047119A), Dec 21, 1993: Cessna 182A, Centerville, IA, Substantial damage. Lost power 20MILES short destination. On forced log power restored. Two miles short quit again. Only unusable fuel. 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.