# NTSB DEN01LA072: Cessna 182A, N4918D, Richfield, UT, March 19, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 19, 2001, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Richfield, UT - Coordinates: 38.75045, -112.0997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7505&lon=-112.0997&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51935 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51935/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA072 ## Probable cause loss of engine power during cruise as a result of fuel exhaustion due to the pilots failure to refuel. Contributing factors were the pilots inadequate aircraft preflight and the unsuitable 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, cruise - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fuel system - exhaustion (contributing factor) - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (cause) - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) ## Analysis In the pilot stated that there were 38 gallons of fuel on board the airplane prior to a 1 hour and 10 minute flight to an airport with no services. At 1 hour and 20 minutes into the returning flight the engine lost power. He made an emergency landing in a field approximately 3/4 of a mile east of the airport. The airplane hit a berm during the landing roll. The nose landing gear collapsed and was torn off the airplane. The pilot later stated, "I think my reading of the fuel quantity in the site tube was in error. While I was measuring the fuel, I was interrupted, and I think I mentally recorded the wrong amount of fuel, resulting in a fuel starvation accident." ## Factual narrative On March 19, 2001, at approximately 1430 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182A, N4918D, sustained substantial damage when it collided with the terrain during an emergency landing. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for this personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed from Needles Outpost, a private airstrip, south of Moab, Utah, at approximately 1300. According to the pilot's accident report, he said there were 38 gallons of fuel on board the airplane prior to departing Richfield Municipal Airport, Richfield, Utah at 1000. He flew a 1 hour and 10 minute flight to Needles Outpost (no services). At 1300, he departed Needles Outpost and flew a return flight of 1 hour and 20 minutes. Approximately 7 miles east of Richfield, the engine lost power. He made an emergency landing in a field approximately 3/4 of a mile east of Richfield Municipal Airport. The airplane hit a berm during the landing roll. The nose landing gear collapsed and was torn off the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, right wing spar and the right wing tip. The pilot also stated, "I think my reading of the fuel quantity in the site tube was in error. While I was measuring the fuel, I was interrupted, and I think I mentally recorded the wrong amount of fuel, resulting in a fuel starvation accident." An airframe and powerplant mechanic, from Richfield Aero Partners, Richfield Municipal Airport, said his examination revealed that, both fuel tank gauges were indicating "empty," the mixture control lever was in the "full rich" position, and the fuel selector was in the "both" position. He also stated that he drained both fuel tanks and recovered 2 and 1/2 gallons of fuel from the left fuel tank and 0 gallons of fuel from the right fuel tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4918D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4918D-2001-08-15), registration cancelled 2001-08-15, S/N 51018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182A - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 51018 - Airframe hours: 4006.4 - Engines: Continental O-470L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steven G Blomquist - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 18, 2000, 80.4 hours before - Departed: NONE, NEEDLES OUTPOST, UT - Destination: RIF, RICHFIELD, UT - Airport: Off Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,335 total, 128 in this make and model, 1,245 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: MLF, 52 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 20010319004079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010319004079A), Mar 19, 2001: Cessna 182, Richfield, UT, No damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he is owner/operator. Took off from Richfield with 2 pax and went to needles outpost (pvt) in canyonlands for lunch. After takeoff from… ## Other investigations on N4918D (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 DEN67D0077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN67D0077), Aug 16, 1966: Cessna 182 (N4918D), Green River, 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.