- Date
- November 17, 1996, 01:00 local (06:00 UTC)
- Place
- Anderson, SC
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8605TCessna 182C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report February 1, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19961117035929A
- Case key
- 38177
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
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
the pilot's improper preflight, resulting in the fuel cap(s) not being secured; and subsequent siphoning and loss of fuel, which resulted in loss of engine power, a forced landing, and subsequent collision with a ditch during the emergency landing.
Analysis
The pilot stated he completed a walk-around inspection of the airplane after having it refueled. He did not check the fuel caps to ensure they were secured. He took off, climbed to 3,000 feet, and leveled off in cruise flight. He observed the fuel gauges were indicating empty. The engine sputtered and quit. The pilot made a forced landing to a road and the airplane collided with a ditch on landing roll-out. Examination revealed evidence that fuel had siphoned from the fuel tanks due to loose fuel cap(s).
Factual narrative
On November 17, 1996, about 0100 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182C, N8605T, registered to Pensacola Aviation, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a total loss of engine power in cruise flight. The pilot made a forced landing to a highway in the vicinity of Anderson, South Carolina, and crashed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from Atlanta, Georgia, about 30 minutes before the accident.
The pilot stated the airplane was refueled at Atlanta, Georgia. He completed a walk around inspection of the airplane, however he did not check the fuel caps. He departed Atlanta and climbed to 3,500 feet msl. He observed the fuel gauges were indicating empty. The engine sputtered and quit. He made a forced landing to a road and the airplane collided with a ditch. Examination of the fuel cap revealed it was not properly secured.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8605T
- Reported as
- Cessna 182C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 52505
- Airframe hours
- 2,700
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Steven S. Killian
- Registered owner
- Pensacola Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 3, 1996 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- PDK · Atlanta, GA
- Destination
- 7A1
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
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 89 total · 32 in this make and model · 41 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 60° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 43 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AND, 2 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.
Other investigations on N8605T · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.