# NTSB LAX00LA265: Cessna TR182, N738XP, Las Vegas, NV, July 15, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 14, 2000, 20:47 local (Jul 15, 2000, 03:47 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Location: 36.1750° N, 115.1372° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Las Vegas, NV, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1750&lon=-115.1372&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 1, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49713 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA265 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49713/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA265 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane and his improper fuel consumption calculations. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - terrain condition - none suitable - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N738XP-2013-02-21), registration cancelled 2013-02-21, S/N R18200974, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna TR182 - Registry model: [Cessna TR182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tr182) (registry code 2072735) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R18200974 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000714011799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000714011799A), Jul 14, 2000: Cessna TR182, Las Vegas, NV, No damage. (-23)While flying on a non-stop IFR flight from boulder, CO. To Las Vegas mc carran airport, the a/c ran out of fuel and struck high power electrical lines… ## Other investigations on N738XP (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 LAX82DA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DA037), Jan 5, 1982: Cessna TR182 (N738XP), Springerville, AZ, 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.