# NTSB FTW04LA081: Cessna 182A, N30408, Claremore, OK, February 22, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 22, 2004, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Claremore, OK - Coordinates: 36.217777, -95.651664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2178&lon=-95.6517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 58800 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58800/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA081 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel contamination (water). A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system - contamination,water (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - soft - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis After departure, at an altitude of approximately 500 feet agl, the 2,100-hour pilot reported the engine "lost most of its power output." The pilot stated he applied carburetor heat and did not notice improvement. The pilot banked the airplane slightly to the right to avoid an approaching tree line and initiated an emergency landing to an open grass field. Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain. The pilot stated that the airplane was last refueled using fuel from five five-gallon plastic containers prior to the flight. He noted there was 12 gallons of fuel in the left fuel tank, and three gallons in the right fuel tank. Examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed a light brown milky substance in the carburetor bowl and both wing fuel tanks. Water was observed in one of the five containers used for refueling. The engine was succsessfully ran for 30 minutes at various power settings on a test bench and was noted to be free of anomalies. ## Factual narrative On February 22, 2004, at 1600 central standard time, a Cessna 182A single-engine airplane, N30408, registered to a private individual and operated by Sky Dive Tulsa of Claremore, Oklahoma, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following a partial loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb from the Sam Riggs Airpark (K11), near Claremore, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot, and two passengers were not injured. One passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 air drop flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The 2,100-hour pilot reported that he taxied to runway 22 (a 2,760 foot long by 35 foot wide turf runway), performed an engine run up, and noted everything was normal. After departure, at an altitude of approximately 500 feet agl, the engine "lost most of its power output." The pilot stated he applied carburetor heat and did not notice improvement. He banked the airplane slightly to the right to avoid an approaching tree line and initiated an emergency landing to an open grass field. Subsequently, the airplane's right wingtip struck the ground. The airplane yawed to the left, and the left main landing gear dug into soft ground. The airplane then "made a small hop" to the left, and impacted the ground on its left side, and came to rest in an upright position. The pilot stated that the airplane was last refueled using fuel from five 5-gallon plastic containers prior to the flight. He noted there was 12 gallons of fuel in the left fuel tank, and three gallons in the right fuel tank. Examination of the airplane, by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, revealed the left wing, outboard of the wing lift strut was bent upwards approximately 45 degrees. The right wing was bent upwards approximately three degrees, one foot inboard from the wing tip. The engine was separated from all its mounts. Examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed a light brown milky substance in the carburetor bowl and both wing fuel tanks. Water was observed in one of the five containers used for refueling. On March 4, 2004, under the supervision of an FAA inspector at the facilities of Barrett Performance Engines of Tulsa, Oklahoma, the engine was successfully ran for 30 minutes at various power settings on a test bench. Review of the aircraft logbooks indicated the airplane's last annual inspection was performed on March 16, 2003, at an aircraft total time of 3,723.41 hours. A completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) was not received by the Safety Board despite multiple attempts. ## Aircraft - Registration: N30408 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182A - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34572 - Engines: Continental O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Operator: Sky Dive Tulsa - Registered owner: Anthony McCutchan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 16, 2003, 103.24 hours before - Departed: K11, Claremore, OK - Airport: K11, Sam Riggs Airpark, runway 22, 2,760 × 35 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,100 total, 1,200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 15 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: GCM, 9 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 20040222005669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040222005669A), Feb 22, 2004: Cessna 182A, Claremore, OK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot and passengers stated the aircraft take off was normal, however, during climb out the aircraft had a loss of engine power at approximately 500-600… 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.