# NTSB ERA23LA336: Cessna 182P, N22RE, North Myrtle Beach, SC, August 13, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 13, 2023, 17:35 local (21:35 UTC) - Place: North Myrtle Beach, SC · Landed on a breidge/Road - Coordinates: 33.6891, -78.8867 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6891&lon=-78.8867&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 192862 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA336 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192862/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192862 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA336 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to properly secure the left wing fuel cap, 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. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); 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) - [Fuel system: fuel storage](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 60 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/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: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he visually confirmed there were 52 gallons of fuel onboard and that both fuel caps were secure to their respective fuel port during his preflight inspection of the airplane. The pilot then departed on the approximate 1 hour and 15-minute flight. While en route, the “low fuel light” flickered on and off. The pilot noted the fuel gauge was reading half full, and he continued with the flight. When the airplane was about 8 minutes from the destination airport, and after descending to traffic pattern altitude, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and made a forced landing to a highway. The airplane impacted a jersey barrier during the landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the airplane accident site and observed that the left wing fuel cap was missing and blue fuel stains were evident on the wing aft of the fuel cap that extended to the trailing edge of the flap. Recovery personnel also reported that both fuel tanks were empty when the wings were removed for transport. The missing fuel cap was not located. Based on this information, it is likely that the pilot did not properly secure the left fuel cap during the preflight inspection, and that during the flight it separated from the airplane. The remaining fuel was siphoned from the fuel tanks through the open fuel port, resulting in fuel exhaustion, and the total loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22RE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22RE), registered now, S/N 18263425, built 1974 (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: 18263425 - Year built: 1974 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stanley Aero Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AKH, Gastonia, NC - Destination: CRE, North Myrtle Beach, NC - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 5, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 101 total, 8 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 81 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KCRE, 11 nm away - METAR: METAR KCRE 132153Z 20012KT 10SM CLR 32/27 A2996 ## 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 20230813012209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230813012209A), Aug 13, 2023: Cessna 182P, N. Myrtle Beach, SC, Substantial damage. 8/13/2023: Aircraft experienced an engine failure/anomaly while inbound to the north Myrtle Beach airport (cre). 4 sob. Pilot was able to land the aircraft on… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192862. 58.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 57.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16506802&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Final_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 246 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16506512&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-Rel.pdf - NTSB mor - insurance adjuster (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16507486&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20MOR%20-%20Insurance%20Adjuster-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.