- Date
- April 5, 1997, 14:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place
- Tucson, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9000XCessna 182D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 2, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970405041279A
- Case key
- 29763
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Fuel exhaustion due to the inadequate preflight inspections performed by both pilots. A factor in the accident was the crosswind experienced during landing rollout.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The owner reported that he had purchased the airplane from the pilot the day before the accident flight. The purpose of the flight was to familiarize himself with the airplane. Prior to departure he and the pilot had performed portions of the preflight inspection. He had not examined the fuel tanks to determine the quantity of fuel onboard, but believed both of the fuel tank gauges registered about 1/4 full. During initial climb the engine surged several times and all power was lost. According to the owner, he then relinquished control to the right seated pilot. The right seated pilot made a forced landing in a southerly direction on a nearby road. During rollout the airplane encountered a strong westerly crosswind, veered off the road, and collided with a dirt embankment. The owner subsequently reported that he suspected the airplane ran out of gas.
Factual narrative
On April 5, 1997, at 1450 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 182D, N9000X, operated by the owner, experienced a total loss of engine power while climbing near the La Cholla Airpark, Tucson, Arizona. The pilot made a forced landing on a road and collided with a dirt embankment during rollout. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local area personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged, and neither the airline transport certificated pilot nor the pilot-rated passenger (owner) was injured. The flight originated near Tucson around 1430.
According to the owner, he held a commercial pilot certificate and was seated in the airplane's left front seat. The owner reported that he had purchased the airplane from the pilot the day before the accident flight. The purpose of the flight was, in part, to familiarize himself with the airplane.
The owner planned to fly the airplane during the entire flight. However, after takeoff the engine surged several times and then all power was lost. The owner reported that he relinquished control of the airplane to the right seated pilot, and for the remainder of the flight he did not handle the controls. The right seated pilot made the forced landing in a southerly direction on a nearby road. During rollout the airplane encountered a strong westerly crosswind and veered off the road.
The owner further indicated that both he and the pilot had performed portions of the preflight inspection. However, he had not examined the fuel tanks to confirm the quantity of fuel onboard. He believed that both of the fuel tank gauges had registered about 1/4 full during the flight. The owner stated that he suspected the airplane "ran out of gas."
According to Federal Aviation Administration records, in addition to an ATP certificate, the pilot held an airplane flight instructor certificate (expired) and an airplane mechanic certificate.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9000X
- Reported as
- Cessna 182D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18253400
- Airframe hours
- 4,024
- Engine
- Continental O-470-L, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- William D. Tiley
- Registered owner
- David S. Fowler
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 15, 1997 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- 40E
- Airport
- 40E · La Cholla Airpark, runway 19, 4,000 × 25 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.