- Date
- October 17, 1995, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Norman, OK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N5060DCessna 182A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 21, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951017032839A
- Case key
- 19689
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane resulting in fuel exhaustion. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While on final approach, the airplane 'ran out of gas.' The pilot attempted to land in a pasture, but was unable to reach it. The airplane touched down on rough terrain and the nose landing gear and right main landing gear separated. The accident occurred on the third and final leg of a 355 nmi cross-country flight. The pilot reported starting the flight with full fuel tanks, but did not report checking the fuel quantity or purchasing fuel at either of his two intermediate stops.
Factual narrative
On October 17, 1995, at 1800 central daylight time, a Cessna 182A, N5060D, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Norman, Oklahoma. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane, operated by Energy Analysts, Inc., departed Tulsa, Oklahoma, at 1650 for the business flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
According to the pilot, he was on final approach to land on runway 17 at Westheimer Airport when the airplane "ran out of gas." He attempted to land in a pasture, but was unable to reach it and touched down on "rough" terrain. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the nose landing gear and the right main landing gear separated from the airplane and the left wing rear attach point was damaged.
The pilot reported that, when the accident occurred, he was on the third and final leg of a 355 nmi cross country flight. He reported starting the flight with full fuel tanks, but did not report checking the fuel quantity or purchasing fuel at either of his two intermediate stops.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5060D
- Reported as
- Cessna 182A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 51160
- Airframe hours
- 3,799
- Engine
- Continental O-470-L, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Energy Analysts, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 6, 1995 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- TUL · Tulsa, OK
- Destination
- OUN
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 641 total · 181 in this make and model · 560 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5060D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.