# NTSB ERA22LA053: Cessna 182P, N423LL, Ringwood, NJ, November 4, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 4, 2021, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Ringwood, NJ · Wooded area - Coordinates: 41.103963, -74.271138 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1040&lon=-74.2711&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104228 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104228/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104228 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA053 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power in flight due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s failure to secure the left wing’s fuel cap. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level; cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2075816), [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. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he visually checked both fuel tanks prior to takeoff and noted he had 40 gallons of usable fuel for the flight. About an hour into the flight, the engine lost all power and he conducted an off-field emergency landing. During the landing, the airplane collided with a tree and damaged the left wing. After the emergency landing, while securing the airplane, the pilot discovered fuel streaks on the left horizontal stabilizer. He also discovered that the left tank fuel cap was missing. Although he said he thought he replaced the fuel cap after checking the fuel, he contacted the departure airport, and the fuel cap was located on the ramp. The pilot did not report any other mechanical anomalies. An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed structural damage to the left, outboard wing. The fuel tank was not breached, and the left fuel tank fuel cap was missing. The left and right fuel tanks were checked for fuel and both tanks were found empty. The fuel selector was discovered in the both position. The forward sump was drained, and a slight amount of fuel drained from the sump. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N423LL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N423LL), registered now, S/N 18264071, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P - Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18264071 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 1885 - Engines: Continental O-470 275 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: 79bravo Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 18, 2021, 12 hours before - Departed: 7B9, Ellington, CT - Destination: N85, Pittstown, NJ - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 3, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 983 total, 95 in this make and model, 630 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: KCDW, 14 nm away - METAR: METAR KCDW 041853Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 11/M06 A3029 RMK AO2 SLP264 T01061056= ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 7, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104228. 7.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13005902&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13005777&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20N423LL-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13005337&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Record%20FAA%20N423LL-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13005663&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Aray%20LA053-Rel.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.