# NTSB LAX92LA059: Cessna 182H, N1986X, Tucson, AZ, November 26, 1991 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 26, 1991, 14:01 local (21:01 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.150978, -110.930267 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1510&lon=-110.9303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 27514 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27514/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA059 ## Probable cause FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, HER FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY WAS ONBOARD AND HER DECISION NOT TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: 1) THE INOPERATIVE LEFT FUEL GAGE; 2) THE FAILURE OF THE OPERATOR MANAGEMENT TO ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN THE AIRCRAFT AND 3) THE PILOT'S DECISION TO OPERATE THE AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN THE REQUIRED EQUIPMENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - inoperative (contributing factor) - maintenance,replacement - not performed, company/operator management (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel supply - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID THAT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AT EL PASO SHE VISUALLY LOOKED IN EACH FUEL TANK AND ESTIMATED THEY WERE TWO THIRDS FULL. SHE DID NOT PHYSICALLY MEASURE THE FUEL QUANTITY. THE LEFT FUEL GAGE WAS KNOWN TO BE INOPERATIVE BY THE PILOT. ON A TWO MILE FINAL APPROACH TO TUCSON THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE PILOT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH ROUGH TERRAIN DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING ATTEMPT IN A DESERT AREA EAST OF THE TUCSON AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY FAA INSPECTORS. THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS COMPLETELY DRY AND THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL. FUEL SYSTEM CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED. THE FAA INSPECTORS REPORTED THAT THE OPERATOR KNEW ABOUT THE INOPERATIVE FUEL GAGE PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT BUT DID NOT REPAIR IT DURING THE LAST MAINTENANCE PERIOD. AN OPERATIVE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATING SYSTEM IS REQUIRED BY REGULATION FOR FLIGHT. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1986X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1986X-2001-03-05), registration cancelled 2001-03-05, S/N 18256086 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182H - Registry model: [Cessna 182H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182h) (registry code 2072718) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18256086 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Snoopy'S Flight School - Registered owner: Woodstock Flyers - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000 - Departed: ELP, EL PASO, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: TUS, Tucson International, runway 29, 10,994 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 623 total, 73 in this make and model, 594 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19911126061999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911126061999A), Nov 26, 1991: Cessna 182H, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. Engine quit near destination. Landed in rough terrain. Both fuel tanks empty. Left fuel indicator inoperative. ## Other investigations on N1986X (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 CHI66F0530](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66F0530), Jan 9, 1966: Cessna 182H (N1986X), Boscobel, WI, 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.