# NTSB DFW05LA085: Cessna 182G, N2315R, Fort Worth, TX, March 10, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 9, 2005, 23:20 local (Mar 10, 2005, 05:20 UTC) - Place: Fort Worth, TX - Coordinates: 32.564998, -97.308052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5650&lon=-97.3081&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61128 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05LA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61128/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA085 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. Contributing factors were the weather conditions conducive for carburetor icing, lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and the prevailing dark night conditions. ## 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 - final approach - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 315-hour pilot reported that after a non-eventful flight, he was performing a straight in approach to the airport when the "engine quit." During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and came to rest nose low. The pilot added that he suspected that carburetor ice could have blocked the carburetor resulting in a loss of engine power. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies with the aircraft or engine. The engine was successfully run for approximately 10 minutes at various power settings during an examination. Approximately 45 minutes after the time of the accident, the weather observation at the airport reported temperature 4 degrees Celsius and dew point 1 degree Celsius. According to information on a Carburetor Icing Probability Chart at the operating temperature/dew point, the airplane was within the "Moderate Icing - Cruise Power setting or serious icing - glide power" range. ## Factual narrative On March 9, 2005, approximately 2320 central standard time, a Cessna 182G single-engine airplane, N2315R, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a reported loss of engine power while on final approach to the Fort Worth Spinks Airport (FWS), near Fort Worth, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The 143-nautical mile cross-country flight originated from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), near Austin, Texas, approximately 2200, and was destined for FWS. The 315-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that after a non-eventful flight and checking the weather conditions at FWS, he elected to perform a straight-in approach to land on runway 35L (6,002-feet long and 100-feet wide asphalt runway). The pilot added that while established on a 3-mile final approach to runway 35L, at an approximate altitude of 1,150 feet mean sea level, the "engine quit," and the pilot initiated a night forced landing. The pilot stated that he attempted to restart the engine while verifying carburetor heat, throttle, propeller, mixture, and magneto settings while keeping the wings level until the airplane impacted mesquite trees. The pilot reported that he suspected that the reason for the loss of engine power during the approach could have been the result of carburetor ice. A review of the information found on a carburetor Icing Probability Chart, given the atmospheric conditions prevailing during the flight, revealed that the airplane was operating within the "Moderate Icing - Cruise Power setting or Serious Icing - Glide Power" range. At 0005, the Automated Surface Observing System at FWS reported wind calm, visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 4 degrees Celsius, dew point 1 degree Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.10 inches of Mercury. Examination of the airplane by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that the airplane came to rest in a nose low attitude in a heavily wooded area. The left wingtip was crushed aft and the left wing was bent down at the wing attaching point. The left wing lifting strut was found separated. The right wing displayed leading-edge crushing throughout its entire span. Fuel was found in the left and right fuel cells. Examination of the airplane was conducted on March 23, 2005, at the facilities of Air Salvage of Dallas, near Lancaster, Texas, by representatives from Teledyne Continental Motors and the FAA under the supervision of the NTSB investigator-in-charge. The Continental O-470-R engine was successfully run for approximately 10 minutes at various power settings. Examination of the right wing fuel tank revealed that the fuel tank and fuel cap vents were free of debris. The left wing fuel tank and fuel filler cap vents were also free of debris. The left wing aft fuel screen was absent of debris. The fuel check valve was found absent of debris with no anomalies noted. In order to facilitate the engine run, a "stub" propeller and a used propeller governor were installed. The #6 cylinder rocker valve cover was also replaced due to a punctured hole. Examination of the rocker valve cover revealed that the puncture was consistent with being penetrated from the outside inward. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2315R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2315R-2006-02-07), registration cancelled 2006-02-07, S/N 18255415, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182G - Registry model: [Cessna 182G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182g) (registry code 2072716) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18255415 - Airframe hours: 5100 - Engines: Teledyne Continental 0470-R 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Scott Hopkins - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 4, 2004, 10 hours before - Departed: AUS, Austin, TX - Destination: FWS, Fort Worth, TX - Airport: FWS, Fort Worth Spinks Airport, runway 35L, 6,002 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 5, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 315 total, 235 in this make and model, 235 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: FWS, 3 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 20050309005379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050309005379A), Mar 9, 2005: Cessna 182G, Fort Worth, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 9, 2005, at approximately 23:20 LCL, a Cessna CE-182 aircraft, N2315R operated by the pilot [privacy data omitted] on a 14 CFR 91 pleasure… ## Other investigations on N2315R (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 FTW67F0353](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67F0353), Nov 26, 1966: Cessna 182G (N2315R), Spring Branch, TX, 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.