# NTSB LAX97LA184: Cessna 182G, N3165S, Corona, CA, May 19, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 19, 1997, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Corona, CA - Coordinates: 33.790733, -118.060226 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7907&lon=-118.0602&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29791 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29791/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA184 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to perform either preflight or en route fuel consumption calculations. The pilot's decision to fly the aircraft without the required pilot's operating handbook (POH) on board was a factor in this accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - flight manuals - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis Upon arrival in the destination area, the pilot was unable to identify his intended airport because of low clouds and haze. He decided to check the weather at the some other airports in the area, but after he had flown a few miles, his engine began to sputter. He switched his fuel selector and rocked the wings but the engine stopped completely within a few moments. The pilot stated that he had been flying by pilotage and dead reckoning and did not have any onboard navigation equipment. He had neither estimated his time en route nor performed any over the ground speed checks. An inspection revealed both tanks contained only residual fuel. The pilot was unable to produce a fuel receipt for his last fuel purchase. There was no pilot operator's handbook (POH) onboard the aircraft and the pilot had not performed any fuel consumption calculations. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 1997, at 1200 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182G, N3165S, nosed over while making a forced landing near Corona, California. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; however, neither the pilot nor his two passengers were injured. The aircraft was rented by the pilot from Corona Aircraft Sales for a personal flight when the accident occurred. The flight originated that morning in Ensenada, Baja del Norte, Mexico, and then departed Brown Field in San Diego, California, at 1100 after clearing customs. Marginal visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the destination and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that when he approached his destination he was unable to identify the airport because of the low clouds and haze. He decided to check the weather at the Chino airport, but after he had flown about 5 miles beyond Corona his engine began to sputter. He switched his fuel selector to the left tank and rocked the wings but the engine ran only for a few moments before stopping completely. The pilot then attempted an off-airfield landing. The pilot said he was flying by pilotage and dead reckoning and did not have any onboard navigation equipment. He stated to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors that he had neither estimated his time en route by checking the winds aloft nor performed any over the ground speed checks. There was no pilot operator's handbook (POH) onboard the aircraft and the pilot had not performed any fuel consumption calculations. The pilot estimated that he had refueled with 28 gallons of 100/130 fuel before departing Ensenada and had 56 gallons of fuel remaining when he took off from San Diego. Investigators estimated about 23.4 gallons would have been consumed to complete the flight from Ensenada to Corona. The manufacturer stated that the total fuel capacity of the aircraft was 84 gallons, including 5 gallons of unusable fuel. A postaccident inspection by FAA inspectors revealed both tanks contained only residual fuel. They examined the soil under the fuel tanks and engine, and detected a slight odor of what they believed could have been auto fuel. When asked by the inspectors, the pilot was unable to produce a fuel receipt for his last reported fuel purchase in Ensenada. An FAA airworthiness inspector, who reviewed all applicable airworthiness directives (AD's), found that all required AD's had been completed. A further review of the aircraft records, however, disclosed that four of the AD's had not been permanently recorded, as required by Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3165S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3165S-2011-01-03), registration cancelled 2011-01-03, S/N 18255665, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182G - Registry model: [Cessna 182G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182g) (registry code 2072716) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18255665 - Airframe hours: 5852 - Engines: Continental O470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert J. Cullen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 28, 1996, 97 hours before - Departed: SDM, SAN DIEGO, CA - Destination: L66, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 672 total, 17 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CNO, 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 19970519011079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970519011079A), May 19, 1997: Cessna 182G, Corona, CA, Substantial damage. Mver. No avionics. Missed airport and ran out of fuel. Crash landed. Failed monitor fuel or caculate fuel needed. 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.