# NTSB CHI96LA331: Cessna 182, N5401B, Eden Prairie, MN, September 8, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 8, 1996, 16:55 local (21:55 UTC) - Place: Eden Prairie, MN - Coordinates: 44.919662, -93.400894 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9197&lon=-93.4009&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 23, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10385 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA331 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10385/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=10385 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA331 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudging the fuel supply and fuel exhaustion. A related factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis While descending to land, the airplane suffered a loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to glide to the runway, but was unable. A forced landing was made in unsuitable terrain short of the intended runway. An examination of the airplane subsequent to the accident revealed only unusable fuel remaining in the tanks. ## Factual narrative On September 8, 1996, at 1655 central daylight time a Cessna 182, N5401B, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing. The pilot reported a loss of engine power and attempted to reach the runway, however landed short of the runway. The pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file for the local flight which departed at 1530. An examination of the airplane after the accident revealed only unusable fuel in the tanks. The aircraft flight manual for the accident airplane indicates usable fuel as 27.5 gallons, additional usable fuel of 1.5 gallons (for level flight only), with 1.0 gallon unusable in each of the wing tanks. When the airplane was leveled the engine was started and no anomalies were indicated. The pilot stated that his most recent biennial flight review was on October 17, 1995; however, his personal log book indicated it was on June 17, 1994. After the accident he obtained a biennial flight review on September 29, 1996. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5401B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5401B-2017-06-07), registration cancelled 2017-06-07, S/N 33401, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182 - 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: 33401 - Engines: Continental O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ernest B. Joyner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 1996, 60 hours before - Departed: FCM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 83; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,032 total, 6,732 in this make and model, 7,032 as pilot in command, 189 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 8 knots - Visibility: 18 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft broken - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: KFC ## 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 19960908036049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960908036049A), Sep 8, 1996: Cessna 182, Minneapolis, MN, Substantial damage. Lost power. Landed short of runway only unusable fuel in short range fuel tanks. (-23) during approach to the Flying Cloud (fcm), MN airport, the pilot… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 1996, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=10385. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 521 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413492&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports (item 2, .PDF, 316 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413493&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Redacted.PDF - Fuel System From Cessna 182 Flight Manual (item 3, .PDF, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40056742&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20System%20From%20Cessna%20182%20Flight%20Manual-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.