LAX00LA265

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna TR182 · Las Vegas, NV · July 15, 2000

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 14, 2000, 20:47 local (Jul 15, 2000, 03:47 UTC)
Place
Las Vegas, NV
Injuries
1 serious, 2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N738XPCessna TR182
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 1, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20000714011799A
Case key
49713

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane and his improper fuel consumption calculations.

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.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalApproach
Fluid,fuel - exhaustionCause
Terrain condition - none suitable
Fuel consumption calculations - improperPilot in commandCause
Refueling - not performedPilot in commandCause
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing

Analysis

According to the pilot's logbook, on July 10, the pilot flew the accident airplane for 1.8 hours for the start of a formal checkout with a flight instructor. According to refueling records, the accident airplane was topped off with fuel on July 13, at a Hobbs meter reading of 4,042.0 hours. On July 14, the pilot completed his checkout with the instructor in the accident airplane within 42 minutes and 4 landings. According to the Hobbs meter reading at the accident site (4,046.6), the airplane had operated 4.6 hours since refueling. The Cessna Aircraft Company Information Manual's endurance profile states that the endurance will be 5.3 hours. The example profile flight is at 18,000 feet msl, 75 percent engine power at maximum takeoff weight, and proper leaning of the fuel/air mixture. According to flight plan information, the pilot listed an en route flight time of 3 hours 15 minutes, with 5.0 hours fuel onboard. The pilot filed for an en route altitude of 20,000 feet msl. The loss of engine power occurred during approach to landing. According to an FAA inspector on scene the fuel tanks were empty.

Factual narrative

On July 14, 2000, about 2047 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna TR182, N738XP, collided with telephone wires and poles during a forced landing on a city street while on final approach to McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. The forced landing was precipitated by a total loss of engine power. The airplane was operated by Flatirons Aviation of Boulder, Colorado, and rented by the pilot for a cross-country flight. The airplane was substantially damaged during the collision sequence. The private pilot received serious injuries and two passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and an IFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Boulder about 1630.

According to the pilot's logbook, on July 10, the pilot flew the accident airplane for 1.8 hours for the start of a formal checkout with a flight instructor. According to refueling records, the accident airplane was topped off with fuel on July 13, at a Hobbs meter reading of 4,042.0 hours. On July 14, he completed his checkout with the instructor in the accident airplane within 42 minutes and 4 landings. According to the Hobbs meter reading at the accident site (4,046.6), the airplane had operated 4.6 hours since refueling. The Cessna Aircraft Company Information Manual's endurance profile states that the endurance will be 5.3 hours. The example profile flight is at 18,000 feet msl, 75 percent engine power at maximum takeoff weight, and proper leaning of the fuel/air mixture.

According to flight plan information, the pilot listed an en route flight time of 3 hours 15 minutes, with 5.0 hours fuel onboard. The pilot filed for an en route altitude of 20,000 feet msl. The loss of engine power occurred during approach to landing. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector on scene, the fuel tanks were empty. During postaccident examination of the airplane the engine was provided fuel and successfully run.

Neither the pilot nor the operator returned the Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, form 6120.1/2.

Aircraft

Registration
N738XP
Reported as
Cessna TR182
Category
Airplane
Serial number
R18200974
Engine
Lycoming O-540-L3C5D, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Flatirons Aviation
Registered owner
Davis, Lawrence R.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
1V5 · Boulder, CO
Destination
LAS · NV
Flight plan
VFR

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
20
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
272 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
230° at 10 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
207 °F, dew point 106 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
LAS, 1 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.

Other investigations on N738XP · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.