# NTSB LAX97LA316: Cessna 182B, N81MK, Madera, CA, September 7, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 1997, 18:00 local (Sep 7, 1997, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Madera, CA - Coordinates: 36.910129, -120.190528 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9101&lon=-120.1905&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29896 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA316 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29896/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA316 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to compute the fuel required and the fuel available. The pilot's decision to extend his downwind beyond gliding distance of the runway after entering the traffic pattern 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, descent - light condition - daylight - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions - fuel consumption calculations - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose gear collapsed, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft - landing gear,nose gear - overload - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis The pilot descended to land after a paradrop. Entering downwind, he cleared the engine, moved the mixture control to full rich, and applied carburetor heat. Being above traffic pattern altitude he extended his downwind. Upon reaching his base leg, he attempted to add power but the engine failed to respond. He switched tanks from both to the right and finally to the left. When the engine continued windmilling he executed a forced landing. The aircraft touched down perpendicular to the rows of the cotton field and nosed over. About 1 gallon of fuel was found in the right tank and 3 gallons found in the left. The aircraft had flown 1.6 hours since being last fueled with 19 gallons. The total fuel onboard after refueling is unknown. The engine manufacturer estimated that engine would consumed about 19 gallons during this period. The aircraft manufacturer stated that there are 1.5 gallons of unusable fuel in each tank. The carburetor icing probability chart, shows that carburetor icing was possible at glide and cruise power. ## Factual narrative On September 6, 1997, about 1800 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182B, N81MK, experienced a loss of power and nosed over in a plowed field during the subsequent forced landing near Madera, California. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the pilot received minor injuries. The aircraft was being operated for paradrop support when the accident occurred. The flight originated from the Madera Municipal Airport about 1730. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The pilot had released his jumpers at 10,500 feet msl and was returning to the airport. After entering downwind about 1,500 feet msl, he cleared the engine, moved the mixture control to full rich, and applied carburetor heat. Being above traffic pattern altitude he elected to extend his downwind. Upon reaching his base leg he attempted to add power and noted there was no increase engine rpm. He switched tanks from both tanks to the right tank. After waiting about 10 seconds for the engine to respond, he then switched to the left tank. The engine continued windmilling, and after descending to 620 agl, he set up and executed a forced landing to a cotton field. The aircraft touched down perpendicular to the rows and the nose gear collapsed after encountering soft terrain and the aircraft nosed over. After the aircraft was righted, about 1 gallon of fuel was found in the right tank and 3 gallons found in the left. According to the recording tachometer, the aircraft had flown 1.6 hours since being last fueled with 19 gallons. The total fuel onboard after refueling is unknown. A representative of the engine manufacturer stated that engine would have consumed about 19 gallons during this period. A representative of the aircraft manufacturer stated that there are 1.5 gallons of unusable fuel in each tank. The temperature and dew point obtained from the aviation weather reporting station at Fresno, California, at the time of the accident were 93 and 56 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. Comparison of those temperatures with a carburetor icing probability chart contained in DOT/FAA/CT-82/44, shows that carburetor icing was possible at glide and cruise power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N81MK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81MK-2013-03-26), registration cancelled 2013-03-26, S/N 51617, built 1958 (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: 51617 - Airframe hours: 6080 - Engines: Continental O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Nita M. & David L. Gilbert - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 22, 1997, 50 hours before - Departed: MAE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 825 total, 6 in this make and model, 679 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FAT, 25 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 19970907025659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970907025659A), Sep 7, 1997: Cessna 182B, Madera, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power returning after jumpers away. Landed cotton field. Cross furrow nosed over. Low fuel or carb icing. 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.