# NTSB LAX96LA303: Cessna 182B, N2487G, Santa Ana, CA, August 10, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 1996, 00:05 local (07:05 UTC) - Place: Santa Ana, CA - Coordinates: 33.710346, -117.86972 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7103&lon=-117.8697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29533 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA303 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29533/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA303 ## Probable cause Improper fuel management by the pilot resulting in exhaustion of the aircraft's fuel supply. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis The aircraft's engine quit during a nighttime descent for landing when the aircraft was 5 miles from the destination airport and the pilot made an off-airport emergency landing in an open field. The pilot acknowledged that he had exhausted his fuel supply. He said that he had cruised at 11,500 feet and that he may not have leaned the mixture properly. The salvage crew reported draining 1 gallon of fuel from the right fuel tank and 3 gallons from the left tank. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 1996, at 0005 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182B, N2487G, impacted rough terrain and nosed over during an off-airport emergency landing in an open field, 3 miles north of John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana, California. The aircraft was substantially damaged; however, the private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight which originated at Lone Pine, California, at 2235 for the flight to the John Wayne Airport. The pilot told the NTSB investigator that he departed Lone Pine with one fuel tank over half full and the other nearly full, but that he had exhausted his fuel supply. The engine failed when he was about 5 miles from the destination airport. When he lowered the nose of the aircraft to a glide attitude the engine ran; however, when he raised the nose the engine stopped. With the engine "coughing and sputtering," he elected to land in a nearby field rather than attempt to reach the airport. He said he had cruised at 11,500 feet and acknowledged that he may have not leaned the mixture properly. The salvage crew, which recovered the aircraft, reported draining 1 gallon of fuel from the right fuel tank and 3 gallons from the left tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2487G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2487G), registered now, S/N 51787, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182B - Registry model: [Cessna 182B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182b) (registry code 2072706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 51787 - Airframe hours: 3639 - Engines: Continental O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Chris A. Welsh - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 12, 1996, 48 hours before - Departed: O26, LONE PINE, CA - Destination: SNA, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 136 total, 44 in this make and model, 94 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 160° at 1 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: NZJ, 6 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 19960810022139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960810022139A), Aug 10, 1996: Cessna 182B, Santa Ana, CA, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel and made an emergency landing in a field, came to rest inverted. ## Other investigations on N2487G (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 MKC70DCD28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC70DCD28), Mar 28, 1970: Cessna 182B (N2487G), Burlington, IA, 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.