# NTSB LAX82FVG17: Cessna 182, N3910D, Folsom, CA, March 20, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: March 19, 1982, 16:00 local (Mar 20, 1982, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Folsom, CA
- Location: 38.6669° N, 121.1423° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Folsom, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6669&lon=-121.1423&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 19, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70696
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82FVG17
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70696/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FVG17

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - erratic (contributing factor)
  - initiated, pilot in command
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT VISUALLY CHECKED THE FUEL BEFORE TAKEOFF AND WAS AWARE THAT THE TANKS WERE NOT FULL. HE REPORTED THAT HE WOULD ONLY USE 80/87 OCTANE FUEL BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH VALVES THAT WOULD ACCEPT 100 OCTANE FUEL. DURING THE FLIGHT, HE ENCOUNTERED CLOUDS AND DIVERTED FROM HIS ORIGINAL ROUTE. THE LEFT FUEL TANK WENT DRY ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTH OF PHOENIX FIELD, FAIR OAKS, CA. HE SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT TANK AND PROCEEDED TOWARD PHOENIX FIELD. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE CHECKED THE RIGHT FUEL TANK GAUGE AFTER SWITCHING TANKS AND IT SHOWED A LITTLE LESS THAN HALF FULL. HOWEVER, WHILE THE PILOT WAS DIVERTING, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A LANDING ON ROUGH, HILLY TERRAIN IN AN AREA OF TREES AND BRUSH. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4500 FT MSL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3910D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18234610
- Airframe hours: 4720
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470 265 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Larry Bechtold
- Registered owner: Larry Bechtold
- Departed: APPLE VALLEY, CA
- Destination: CCR, CONCORD, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 128 total, 36 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles

## 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 19820319004669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820319004669A), Mar 19, 1982: Cessna 182, Folsom, CA, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel enroute. Crash landed into a ravine. Misjudged fuel quantity.

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.

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