# NTSB GAA17CA098: Cessna 182, N5954B, Apple Valley, CA, December 19, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 18, 2016, 18:40 local (Dec 19, 2016, 02:40 UTC) - Place: Apple Valley, CA - Coordinates: 34.604721, -117.157775 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6047&lon=-117.1578&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 20, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94528 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94528/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94528 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA098 ## Probable cause The pilot’s mismanagement of the available fuel, which resulted in a loss of engine power and a subsequent hard, off-airport landing and nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the single-engine airplane reported that, after traveling about 270 nautical miles (nm) to the destination airport, the pilot-controlled lighting would not illuminate when activated. The pilot diverted to an alternate airport that was 40 nm to the northeast, but the pilot reported that runway lighting was not available at the alternate airport. The pilot reported that he decided to fly about 70 nm southwest to another alternate airport, but the engine quit even though the fuel indicator showed that 1/4 tank of fuel remained. He reported that he entered a descending left turn, that he leveled the wings with no flaps, and that the airspeed was about 52 kts. The pilot recalled that the airplane landed hard and nosed over after the nose landing gear and propeller struck a berm. Substantial damage was sustained to both wings, the firewall, and empennage. During the airplane recovery, the fuel selector was photographed in the right wing tank position. The left tank did not have any fuel in the tank, and the right tank contained about 2 cups of fuel. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) avionics inspector present during the examination of the airplane's radios and antennas, no failures or malfunctions were identified. According to the FAA Airport Facility Directory, both the destination and diversion airports were equipped with medium intensity runway lighting, and the first airport the pilot diverted from was equipped with precision approach path indicator lights. No NOTAMS pertaining to lighting were issued at these airports on the date of the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot in command (PIC) of the single-engine airplane reported that after traveling about 270 nautical miles (nm) to their destination airport, the pilot controlled lighting would not illuminate when activated. The PIC diverted to an alternate airport that was 40 nm to the northeast, but the PIC reported that runway lighting was not available at the alternate airport. The PIC reported that he decided to fly about 70 nm southwest to another alternate airport, but the engine quit although the fuel indicator showed ¼ tank of fuel remained. He reported that he entered a descending left turn, he leveled the wings, no flaps and the airspeed was about 52 kts. The PIC recalled that the airplane landed hard, and nosed over after the nose landing gear and propeller struck a berm. Substantial damage was sustained to both wings, the firewall, and empennage. During the airplane recovery, the fuel selector was photographed in the right wing tank position. The left tank did not have any fuel in the tank, and the right tank contained about 2 cups of fuel. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Avionics Inspector present during the examination of the airplane's radios and antennas, no failures or malfunctions were identified. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Facility Directory, both airports were equipped with Medium Intensity Runway Lighting, and the first airport the PIC diverted from was equipped with Precision Approach Path Indicator lights. There weren't any notices to airman for the above mentioned airports, pertaining to lighting the date of the accident. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5954B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5954B-2018-12-31), registration cancelled 2018-12-31, S/N 33954, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33954 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 3734.6 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2016 - Departed: WVI, Watsonville, CA - Destination: DAG, Barstow, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: APV, Apple Valley - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review October 17, 2015; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 4,016 total, 310 in this make and model, 4,016 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: KAPV, 2 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 20161218025169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161218025169A), Dec 18, 2016: Cessna 182A, Apple Valley, CA, Substantial damage. N5954B, a 1956 Cessna 182A, departed watsonville airport(wvi) enroute to north las vegas airport (vgt) on 12/18/16. N5954B forced to land during darkness at… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94528. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453568&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Avionics Examination (item 2, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453569&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Avionics%20Examination-Master.PDF - Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453570&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.PDF 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.