# NTSB LAX94LA348: Cessna 182, N5449B, Orland, CA, September 3, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 1994, 22:00 local (Sep 3, 1994, 05:00 UTC) - Place: Orland, CA - Coordinates: 39.729663, -122.330436 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7297&lon=-122.3304&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28849 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA348 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28849/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA348 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW CHECKLIST PROCEDURES TO ASSURE THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE BOTH FUEL TANKS POSITION. FUEL STARVATION AND THE DARK NIGHT WERE FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, descent - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - pole - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS COMPLETING A 4-HOUR FLIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE MADE A LEFT BANKING TURN TO ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE RUNWAY. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY POSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT TANK POSITION AND HE SAID HE BELIEVES THE MANEUVER CAUSED THE FUEL TO UNPORT AND THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A HIGHWAY. IT WAS A DARK NIGHT AND THE AIRPLANE'S WING STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE. ## Factual narrative On September 2, 1994, at 2200 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182, N5449B, lost engine power and collided with a telephone pole during an approach to landing near Orland, California. The pilot was completing a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, owned by Leonard W. Kunz, Yakima, Washington, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; the other passenger/owner sustained serious injuries. The flight originated at Yakima Airport, Yakima, Washington, at 1800 hours. The pilot reported that while on a 5 1/2-mile final approach to runway 33, he made a left banking turn to align the airplane with the runway centerline. He said he had previously positioned the fuel selector valve to the left tank and did not place the fuel selector in the both position. The pilot said that this maneuver caused the fuel to unport and "suck" air that caused the engine to experience fuel starvation. After the engine lost power, the pilot immediately repositioned the fuel selector valve to the both tanks position, but without success. The pilot was unable to restart the engine. The airplane's altitude was insufficient to make the airport and the pilot elected to land on a highway. During the landing flare, the airplane's wing struck a telephone pole. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5449B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5449B-2013-06-13), registration cancelled 2013-06-13, S/N 33449, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 - Registry model: [Cessna 182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (registry code 2072702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33449 - Airframe hours: 2570 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Same As Registered Owner - Registered owner: Kunz, Leonard W. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 23, 1993, 133 hours before - Departed: YKM, YAKIMA, WA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: O38, Haigh Field, runway 15, 4,500 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,100 total, 700 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19940902035389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940902035389A), Sep 2, 1994: Cessna 182, Orland, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power short of runway. Hit power pole landing on a road. Fuel selector on low fuel tank. Fuel unported banking 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.