# NTSB GAA18CA421: Cessna 182, N2394G, Lincoln, IL, July 11, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 11, 2018, 14:37 local (19:37 UTC) - Place: Lincoln, IL - Coordinates: 40.195556, -89.304168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1956&lon=-89.3042&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97760 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA421 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97760/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97760 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA421 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper preflight planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power. ## 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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072706), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072706), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 182B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=2072706), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/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 182B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072706), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 182B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072706), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 182B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072706), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072706), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he departed with 60 gallons of fuel, and about 5 hours into an aerial observation flight, the airplane was not responding to throttle inputs, and he decided to head toward a nearby airport to land. He descended to 2,000 ft, the engine experienced a total power loss, and he realized he was not going to be able to glide to the destination airport. He turned toward a field, and about 50 ft above ground, the airplane started gaining power and climbed to 100 ft. The engine experienced another power loss, and he turned 180° toward the interstate, and the engine surged a second time before losing power again. During the forced landing on the interstate, the airplane struck a car and came to rest in the grass adjacent to the road. Video provided by the Federal Aviation Administration showed no fuel drained from the left fuel tank and less than 1/2 cup of fuel drained from the right fuel tank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he departed with 60 gallons of fuel and, about 5 hours into an aerial observation flight, the airplane was not responding to throttle inputs and he decided to head towards a nearby airport to land. He descended to 2,000 ft, the airplane experienced a total power loss, and he realized he was not going to be able to glide to the destination airport. He turned towards a field and about 50 ft above ground, the airplane started gaining power and climbed to 100 ft. The engine experienced another power loss and he turned 180° towards the interstate and the engine surged a second time before losing power again. During the forced landing on the interstate, the airplane struck a car and came to rest in the grass adjacent to the road. Video provided by the Federal Aviation Administration showed no fuel drained from the left fuel tank and less than one-half cup of fuel drained form the right fuel tank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2394G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2394G-2021-08-10), registration cancelled 2021-08-10, S/N 51694 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182 (B) - Registry model: [Cessna 182B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182b) (registry code 2072706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 51694 - Engines: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: KILO Aviation LLC - Registered owner: KILO Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: C75, Lacon, IL - Destination: AAA, Lincoln, IL - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 29, 2017; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 724.5 total, 30.1 in this make and model, 489.7 as pilot in command, 193.1 in the last 90 days, 30.3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KAAA, 3 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 20180711010859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180711010859A), Jul 11, 2018: Cessna 182B, Lincoln, IL, Substantial damage. On 07/11/18 the pilot of registered aircraft N2394G a Cessna 182B experienced engine roughness at 11,600 ft, while performing commercial aerial survey work… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 11, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97760. 26.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 26.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467335&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 628 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467336&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.