# NTSB FTW96LA065: Cessna 182E, N9376X, Erie, CO, December 12, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 12, 1995, 07:57 local (14:57 UTC) - Place: Erie, CO - Coordinates: 40.020835, -105.039184 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0208&lon=-105.0392&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 11, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19723 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19723/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA065 ## Probable cause inadequate preflight by the pilot, by failing to properly remove water and other contamination from the fuel system before the flight. Factors relating to the accident were: deteriorated seals at the fuel filler neck/caps, and the annual inspection was overdue. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - maintenance,annual inspection - overdue, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fuel system,cap - deteriorated (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - fluid,fuel - contamination,other than water (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff ## Analysis The pilot said he drained 'all moisture and foreign material' from the airplane's fuel sumps on the day before, and on the day of, the accident. The engine lost power shortly after takeoff and the airplane collided with terrain during the ensuing forced landing. Postaccident examination disclosed water and other contaminants in the fuel system. Also, the seals around the fuel tank filler necks and caps were deteriorated. ## Factual narrative On December 12, 1995, at 0757 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182E, N9376X, was destroyed when it collided with terrain during a forced landing at Erie, Colorado. The private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and flight plan was not filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot said that on the day before the accident, he drained "all moisture and foreign material" from the airplane's fuel tank quick drains and the main fuel sump. On the morning of the accident, he again drained "a small amount of moisture" from the fuel drains. The pilot said he took off and near the departure end of runway 15, the engine lost power. By pumping the throttle, he was able to restart the engine but it lost power shortly thereafter. The pilot attempted to make a landing, but the airplane collided with terrain. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector said he saw no fuel leaking from the airplane, nor did he smell fuel at the accident site. Airport officials told the inspector they had not seen the airplane fly in the three years it had been based at the airport. Representatives from Cessna Aircraft Company and Teledyne Continental Motors went to the accident site. They drained a quantity of water from the right fuel tank, and a mixture of fuel, water, and contaminants from the gascolator. They reported the seals around the fuel tank filler necks and caps were deteriorated. They also recovered the fuel sampler used by the pilot during the preflight inspection. It was aged and had a yellow discoloration. In a meeting with the pilot, he stated he was en route to Van Aire Airpark in Brighton, Colorado, where the airplane was to receive an annual inspection. He admitted he was flying an airplane that did not have a current annual inspection, and that his biennial flight review had expired. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9376X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9376X-2006-05-16), registration cancelled 2006-05-16, S/N 18253776, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182E - Registry model: [Cessna 182E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182e) (registry code 2072712) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18253776 - Airframe hours: 1424 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: Neil J. Haley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 1993, 0 hours before - Departed: 48V - Destination: CO12, BRIGHTON, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 597 total, 248 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 4 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °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 19951212040349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951212040349A), Dec 12, 1995: Cessna 182E, Erie, CO, Destroyed. Engine quit on climbout. Crashed. Claimed drained sumps but water in fuel. Fuel caps leaky. Bladders hold water. ## Other investigations on N9376X (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 FTW70D0136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW70D0136), Aug 11, 1969: Cessna 182E (N9376X), Addison, TX, 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.