# NTSB FTW97LA324: Cessna 182A, N4930D, Delta, CO, August 23, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 23, 1997, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Delta, CO - Coordinates: 38.740177, -108.070243 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7402&lon=-108.0702&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20324 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA324 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20324/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA324 ## Probable cause Failure by the pilot to properly plan for the flight in that the fuel aboard was insufficient for the planned flight. Factors were: inaccurate fuel gauges and terrain condition 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(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - open field - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said he took off on a local flight with approximately 11 gallons of fuel on board the aircraft according to the fuel gauges. The engine lost all power approximately 30 minutes after takeoff and the pilot performed a forced landing in a field. At the time the engine failure occurred, the pilot said the fuel gauges read approximately 1/4 fuel quantity in each tank. During landing roll, the aircraft struck a ditch shearing off the nose landing gear and nosed over causing substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and engine mounts. The pilot stated the engine failed due to fuel starvation with no mechanical malfunction other than the fuel gauges being inaccurate. ## Factual narrative On August 23, 1997, at 1030 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182A, N4930D, nosed over during landing roll following a forced landing approximately 5 miles east of Delta, Colorado. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Delta, Colorado, (1V9) about 1000. According to the pilot, a total loss of power occurred while he was in cruise flight over Grande Mesa at 11,000 feet above mean sea level. He said he attempted to glide to a dirt strip to the south of the mesa and when he realized he would not make the field of choice, he landed in an open field. According to his statement, a ditch transected the field and when the aircraft struck the ditch, during landing roll, the nose landing gear was sheared off and the aircraft nosed over causing damage to the top of the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, both wings and the engine mounts. In his report to the Board, (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) the pilot stated that he thought he had about 11 gallons of fuel aboard the aircraft, according to the fuel gauges, when he took off. He said that when the engine lost power, the fuel gauges showed approximately 1/4 tank each. The pilot said the engine "quit due to fuel exhaustion" and that there was no mechanical malfunction other than the fuel gauges being inaccurate. According to the aircraft owner's manual, the total fuel capacity of the aircraft was is 65 gallons with 5 gallons unusable and the fuel gauges were marked E,1/4,1/2,3/4,F. These markings do not indicate gallons of fuel remaining by any direct method. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4930D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4930D), registered now, S/N 51030 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182A - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 51030 - Airframe hours: 2081 - Engines: Continental O-470-R-25B 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ralph P. & Charlene F. Wallace - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 1996, 52 hours before - Departed: 1V9, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 789 total, 49 in this make and model, 789 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MTJ, 40 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 19970823023459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970823023459A), Aug 23, 1997: Delta, CO, Substantial damage. Aircraft ran out of fuel, made emergency landing in a field, hit a drainage ditch and flipped over. ## Other investigations on N4930D (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 MIA89LA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA014), Oct 21, 1988: Cessna 182A (N4930D), La Belle, FL, 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.