# NTSB DEN06CA029: Cessna 182A, N4755D, Hobbs, NM, December 31, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 31, 2005, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Hobbs, NM - Coordinates: 32.688331, -103.216667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6883&lon=-103.2167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 63057 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN06CA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63057/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06CA029 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot's failure to visually verify the fuel quantity in the fuel tanks prior to departure. Contributing factors include the pilot's inadequate preflight, and the transmission wires. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the pilot, he "ran out of fuel" on final approach. The airplane's landing gear became entangled in a power line during the emergency descent and the airplane impacted the ground causing substantial damage to the airplane and serious injury to the pilot and passenger. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he "ran out of fuel" on final approach. The airplane landing gear became entangled in a power line during the emergency decent and the airplane impacted the ground. The private pilot and his passenger both sustained broken bones. The engine was crushed aft into the firewall, and the right main gear crushed up into the floorboard. The right wing, inboard of the wing tip was wrinkled, and the empennage was wrinkled aft of the right fuselage door. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4755D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4755D-2012-12-13), registration cancelled 2012-12-13, S/N 34855, 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: 34855 - Airframe hours: 4531.4 - Engines: Teledyne Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2005 - Departed: HOB, Hobbs, NM - Destination: HOB, Hobbs, NM - Airport: HOB, Lea County/Hobbs/ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 2,833 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 2,692 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 16 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: HOB, 2 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 20051231029859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051231029859A), Dec 31, 2005: Cessna 182A, Hobbs, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 31, 2005, after topping off the fuel tanks with 37.8 gallons of fuel, the pilot and a passenger departed Hobbs, new Mexico, on a personal… ## Other investigations on N4755D (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 MIA69F0452](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA69F0452), Jan 12, 1969: Cessna 182 (N4755D), Norcross, GA, 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.