# NTSB ERA13CA427: Cessna 182E, N3152Y, Middletown Springs, VT, September 21, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 21, 2013, 08:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Middletown Springs, VT - Coordinates: 43.798053, -73.214721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7981&lon=-73.2147&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 2, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88106 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA427 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88106/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88106 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA427 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072712), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072712), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072712), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cessna 182E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2072712), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072712), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 182E, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072712), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182E, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072712), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane departed from a private airport that did not have fuel available for purchase. The pilot reported that he elected to refuel while en route to his destination instead of other airports located near the departure airport. The pilot further reported that upon reaching the airport that he intended to refuel at, he found it was closed and diverted to another airport. At that time, he noticed that the airplane's fuel gauge needles were "bouncing off empty." The airplane subsequently experienced a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall and forward portion of the fuselage. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and had he received a full weather briefing prior to the flight, he would have known about the closed airport and planned accordingly. ## Factual narrative The flight departed from a private airport that did not have fuel available for purchase. The pilot reported that he elected to refuel while en route to his destination instead of other airports located near the departure airport. The pilot further reported that upon reaching the airport that he intended to refuel at, he found it was closed and diverted to another airport. At that time, he noticed that the airplane's fuel gauge needles were "bouncing off empty." The airplane subsequently experienced a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall and forward portion of the fuselage. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and had he received a full weather briefing prior to the flight, he would have known about the closed airport and planned accordingly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3152Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3152Y-2018-03-13), registration cancelled 2018-03-13, S/N 18254152, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182E - Registry model: [Cessna 182E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182e) (registry code 2072712) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18254152 - Year built: 1962 - Airframe hours: 6308 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 2013, 6 hours before - Departed: VT26, SOUTH HERO, VT - Destination: GFL, GLENS FALLS, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 3, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 3,654 total, 2,852 in this make and model, 53 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 126 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: RUT, 20 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 20130921018179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130921018179A), Sep 21, 2013: Cessna 182E, Middletown Spri, VT, Substantial damage. Per pilot's statement, pilot did not correctly calculate fuel consumption rate while encountering head winds, ran out of fuel, crashed in Middletown springs,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 19, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88106. 830 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 494 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403617&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photograph # 1 View of airplane as it came to rest (Provided by FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 336 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403618&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%20%20View%20of%20airplane%20as%20it%20came%20to%20rest%20(Provided%20by%20FAA)-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.