# NTSB LAX07LA212: Cessna 182G, N4521M, Orland, CA, July 9, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 9, 2007, 13:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Orland, CA - Coordinates: 39.7202777777778, -122.146388888889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7203&lon=-122.1464&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66185 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07LA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66185/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA212 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's improper preflight inspection and preparation, and his failure to ensure adequate fuel was onboard for the anticipated flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel supply - not verified, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis The private pilot and passenger departed the airport on a short familiarization flight. The passenger noted that the fuel gauges were reading empty but the pilot said not to pay attention to the fuel gauges. The engine sputtered and lost power about 10 miles north of the airport at 1,200 feet while in a left turn. The pilot executed a forced landing into a soft and recently plowed crop field, and the airplane nosed over. One gallon of fuel was drained from the airplane during the recovery. No airframe or engine mechanical failures or malfunctions were identified by the FAA inspector that examined the airplane wreckage. ## Factual narrative On July 9, 2007, about 1320 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182G, N4521M, lost engine power and nosed over during the subsequent forced landing near Haigh Field, Orland, California. The private pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and single passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The flight departed Haigh Field about 1300. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report that prior to departing Palo Alto he estimated that the airplane's fuel tanks were 1/2 full. The flight to Haigh Field took 44 minutes. At Haigh Field he took a passenger on board, who was interested in purchasing the airplane, for a very short local familiarization flight. They flew north of the airport, towards the passenger's ranch property. During the return leg of the flight, about 1,200 feet mean sea level, and about 1 to 2 miles from the airport, the engine quit. The pilot determined that there were too many houses between the airplane and the runway to ensure a safe landing. He located an open crop field and set up for a landing there. He was able to restart the engine, but by that time he was committed to the open field landing. The engine was running at low power at the time of the touchdown. The plowed crop field was soft, and the airplane nosed over at the end of its landing roll. The passenger stated to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that when he entered the airplane the fuel gauges were showing empty, and the pilot told him not to pay any attention to the fuel gauges. They flew north toward his ranch. During a left turn over Kirkwood road (approximately 10 miles north of the airport), the engine sputtered and quit. The pilot took the controls and stated that they need to return to the airport for fuel. The pilot restarted the engine but it ran for only about 2 seconds. The pilot decided to execute a forced landing into a crop field. They landed hard and traveled about 100 feet before nosing over. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane on July 24, 2007. The inspector reported that the personnel who recovered the airplane from the corn field had drained a total of 1 gallon of fuel from the airplane. On scene personnel reported to the inspector that there was a small drip from one of the fuel caps. When the cap was tightened slightly the drip stopped. The gascolator was about 3/4 full of fuel and there was no fuel present in the fuel line from the gascolator to the carburetor. There was a very small amount of fuel present in the carburetor bowl. The fuel selector was successfully tested for functionality. The fuel quantity transmitters were tested and observed to read correctly on the cockpit fuel gauges. The engine was rotated by hand and all six cylinders demonstrated compression. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4521M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4521M-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N 18255142, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182G - Registry model: [Cessna 182G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182g) (registry code 2072716) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18255142 - Engines: Teledyne-Continental Motors O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lawrence Shapiro - Registered owner: Mark Hirschel - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KO37, Orland, CA - Airport: KO37, Haigh Field Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review May 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Other flight crew; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: right; flight hours: 2,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KCIC, 15 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 20070709014979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070709014979A), Jul 9, 2007: Cessna 182G, Orland, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed Orland/haigh field (O37) with 1 passenger on local demonstration flight. Glen co. sheriff reports after about 10 to 15 minutes, the… 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.