# NTSB FTW95LA302: Cessna 182L, N42712, Oklahoma City, OK, July 16, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 1995, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Oklahoma City, OK - Coordinates: 35.450263, -97.569869 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4503&lon=-97.5699&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19502 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA302 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19502/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA302 ## Probable cause FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES OF CROSS COUNTRY FLYING, AS THE FLIGHT APPROACHED THE DESTINATION, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT 'THE FUEL GAUGES WERE INDICATING NEARLY EMPTY.' SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE 'QUIT' AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A ROUGH, UNEVEN FIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED NO USABLE FUEL IN THE TANKS. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 1995, approximately 1215 central daylight time, a Cessna 182L, N42712, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of power, near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane, owned by the pilot, was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The personal, cross country flight originated from Hardwick Field, Cleveland, Tennessee, at 0805, and was en route to Sundance Airpark, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the flight. The pilot reported that, as the airplane approached Oklahoma City, he noticed that "the fuel gauges were indicating nearly empty" and decided to divert to nearby Expressway Junction Airpark, to refuel. After having difficulty locating Expressway Junction, he decided to continue the flight to his original destination, Sundance Airpark. Prior to reaching Sundance, the engine "quit" and the pilot executed a forced landing to a ROUGH field. Examination of the aircraft revealed no usable fuel in the tanks and structural damage to the firewall. According to the pilot, the airplane has a 78 gallon fuel capacity; however, he measured approximately 73 gallons of fuel on board prior to departure from Cleveland. The airplane was airborne approximately 5 hours and 15 minutes prior to the forced landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42712](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N42712), registered now, S/N 18259155, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182L - Registry model: [Cessna 182L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182l) (registry code 2072726) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 182L59155 - Airframe hours: 2139 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edmond D. Clifford - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 1995, 31 hours before - Departed: HDI, CLEVELAND, TN - Destination: HSD - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,981 total, 3,265 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F ## 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 19950716042039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950716042039A), Jul 16, 1995: Cessna 182L, Oklahoma City, OK, Substantial damage. Lost power near destination after departing cleveland TN. Crash landed. Fuel tanks were empty. ## Other investigations on N42712 (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 LAX96LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA021), Oct 25, 1995: Cessna 182L (N42712), Auburn, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain directional control following a hard landing. His physical impairment was a factor. 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.