# NTSB FTW01LA130: Cessna 182P, N9875E, Hondo, TX, May 27, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 2001, 11:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: Hondo, TX - Coordinates: 29.359443, -99.176666 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3594&lon=-99.1767&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52354 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52354/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA130 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight of the airplane, which resulted in a loss of engine power in cruise flight due to water in the fuel. A contributing factor was the soft terrain encountered during the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The engine power dropped to 900 rpm during cruise flight at 2,500 feet msl. During the off airport landing, the nose landing gear dug into the soft terrain, and the airplane came to rest in the inverted position. Water and debris were found mixed with the fuel drained from the gascolator. The pilot reported that he found no water in the fuel during the preflight, and no discrepancies with the aircraft during the pre-takeoff run up of the engine. A fuel sample from the fueling truck was not contaminated. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2001, at 1140 central daylight time, a Cessna 182P, single-engine airplane, N9875E, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during cruise flight near Hondo, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot, sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned cross-country flight to Wharton, Texas. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight which departed Hondo Municipal Airport at 1120. The pilot reported that he performed the preflight and found "no water in [the] fuel." The airplane was topped with 25.2 gallons of fuel for the planned flight, and the pilot verified that the fuel tanks were full. Following a satisfactory pre-takeoff, the flight departed runway 17. Several minutes after the airplane was in cruise flight at 2,500 feet msl, the engine power decreased to 900 rpm. The pilot performed the emergency checklist; however, the engine did not regain cruise power. During the off airport landing, the nose gear dug into the soft terrain, and the airplane came to rest in the inverted position. The FAA inspector, who responded to the site, found the vertical stabilizer bent, upper rudder area crushed, right wing strut bent, and the left wing buckled outboard of the wing strut. The fuselage was wrinkled and buckled. On May 29, 2001, an FAA inspector examined the airplane at Rusty's Flying Service, Hondo, Texas. Water came out of the carburetor when the throttle was operated. Water and debris were found mixed with the fuel drained from the gascolator. A fuel sample from the fuel truck looked "clear with some minute fibers floating in it," and the fuel color was consistent with 100 low lead aviation fuel. Maintenance records, reviewed by the FAA inspector, indicated the last annual inspection was performed on March 10, 2001. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9875E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9875E-2021-07-03), registration cancelled 2021-07-03, S/N 18263936, 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: 18263936 - Airframe hours: 1511 - Engines: Continental O-470-S 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Henry Jetelina - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2001, 4 hours before - Departed: HDO, Hondo, TX - Destination: 5R5, Wharton, TX - Airport: HDO, Hondo Municipal, runway 17, 6,024 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 369 total, 67 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 120 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: HDO, 4 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 20010527009189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010527009189A), May 27, 2001: Cessna 182P, Hondo, TX, Substantial damage. (.19)On may 27, 2001, at 1132 central daylight time, a Cessna 182P, single-engine airplane, N9875E, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following… ## Other investigations on N9875E (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 LAX86LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA172), Apr 10, 1986: Cessna 182 (N9875E), Jackson, CA, 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.