# NTSB LAX04LA005: Cessna 182A, N3904D, Jean, NV, October 7, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 7, 2003, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Jean, NV - Coordinates: 35.729999, -115.45333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7300&lon=-115.4533&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 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58117 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58117/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA005 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis Following a loss of engine power, the airplane nosed over when the pilot executed a forced landing onto a dirt road. The pilot started a descent out of 9,500 feet mean sea level (msl) when the airplane experienced some moderate turbulence. This was followed by an uncommanded reduction of engine power towards idle. The pilot applied carburetor heat and adjusted the fuel mixture. Despite the pilot's manipulation of engine controls, power was not restored. The pilot selected what appeared to him to be a dirt road on which to force land the airplane. While landing the airplane, deep ruts in the road affected the landing and the airplane came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed that the total fuel onboard after the accident was 3 gallons. Normal unusable fuel for each tank is 1.5 gallons. However, if the aircraft is not in a level flight attitude, an additional 3.5 gallons of fuel per tank may be unusable due to the aft placement of the fuel line ports in the fuel cells. ## Factual narrative On October 7, 2003, about 1330 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182A, N3904D, nosed over during an off airport forced landing 7 miles southwest of Jean, Nevada. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power. The airplane was being repositioned to Jean by the pilot for the owner under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The personal cross-country flight departed Lake Elsinore, California, at 1155. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The pilot stated to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he started a decent out of 9,500 feet mean sea level (msl) when the airplane experienced some moderate turbulence. This was followed by an uncommanded reduction of engine power towards idle. The pilot applied carburetor heat and adjusted the fuel mixture. Despite the pilot's manipulation of engine controls, power was not restored. The pilot selected what appeared to him to be a dirt road on which to force land the airplane. While landing the airplane, deep ruts in the road affected the landing and the airplane came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector found that the total fuel onboard after the accident was 3 gallons. Normal unusable fuel for each tank is 1.5 gallons. However, if the aircraft is not in a level flight attitude, an additional 3.5 gallons of fuel per tank may be unusable due to the aft placement of the fuel line ports in the fuel cells. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3904D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3904D), registered now, S/N 34604 (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: 34604 - Airframe hours: 4918 - Engines: Continenal O-470L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Laurent Lobjoit - Registered owner: John P. Warren - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 9, 2003, 33 hours before - Departed: Lake Elsinore, CA - Destination: 0L7, Jean, NV - Airport: 0L7, Jean ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 14, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 729 total, 18 in this make and model, 620 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.18 inHg - Observed at: KLAS, 35 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 20031007026599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031007026599A), Oct 7, 2003: Cessna 182A, Primm, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) On 10/07/2003, at about 1330 local time, a Cessna 182-A aircraft made a forced landing on a dirt road about 10 miles southwest of jean, NV airport (OL7)… 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.