# NTSB MIA99LA192: Cessna 182Q, N4784N, Rock Springs, NC, June 30, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 1999, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Rock Springs, NC - Coordinates: 35.690704, -82.550689 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6907&lon=-82.5507&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 7, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46687 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46687/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA192 ## Probable cause **This report was modified on 2/24/2016. Refer to the public docket for this accident for additional information.** Inadequate preflight by the commercial pilot/CFI receiving instruction resulting in an in-flight loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - to cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, dual student (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - wire,static - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), and the pilot receiving instruction (PRI), while climbing through 4,500 feet Mean Sea Level, the engine started to run rough. Carburetor heat was added and, "...the engine smoothed out for a few seconds, but then the engine quit altogether ...we went thru the engine-out checklist in an effort to get a restart, never thinking we had run out of fuel...we noted the right fuel gauge reading empty. The left gauge...read about 1/2 to 2/3 full." The PRI selected a field as a forced landing area and they headed for it. The CFI did not like the area and headed for a road. They were both aware of the wires that crossed the road, and ran parallel to the road. The PRI relinquished the controls to the CFI. The CFI maneuvered the airplane between the wires. The right wing tip hit the wires, and the airplane was deflected to the right. The right wing tip hit a pine tree, and the airplane hit the ground collapsing the nose gear and the main gear. According to the CFI, the PRI had preflighted the airplane's fuel system by dipping his finger into the fuel cell. He then used a dip-stick provided in the airplane for a more accurate assessment. The PRI stated that after he checked the fuel tanks, he told the CFI that the airplane was topped off. The CFI did not confirm this. After the accident the CFI found out that the PRI had used the wrong dipstick which had been provided by Asheville Jet Center. The FAA inspector stated in his statement that the airplane was last refueled by the Jet Center on June 26, 1999. A renter who flew the airplane for 6.5 hours said he added 10 gallons of fuel on June 27. 1999. Asheville Jet Center stated that they had no record of the airplane being refueled between June 27, 1999, and the accident flight on June 30. Examination of the fuel system revealed no fuel in the right fuel tank. The left wing tank inspection panel was removed and about one pint of fuel was present. Both fuel caps were on firmly. Both fuel tanks maintained their structural integrity. There was no evidence that fuel had vented overboard. Fuel was present in the fuel strainer and in the fuel line from the engine to just above the strainer. The CFI also verified that no fuel was present in the tanks. He also stated that before takeoff he looked at the fuel gauges and they were somewhere between 1/3 and full. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 1999, about 1245 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, N4784N, registered to Asheville Jet Center Inc., collided with a wire during a forced landing near Rock Springs, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial-rated pilot, the commercial-rated student pilot, and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from Asheville, North Carolina, about 1000.According to the pilot-in-command (PIC), the CFI (certified flight instructor), that was given instructions on this flight, the pilot receiving instruction (the second pilot), had preflighted the airplane's fuel system, "...[by getting] up on the stool and checking the fuel quantity. He first dipped his finger to a depth of about one finger joint and a half ( approximately 1.5 inches) and mentioned that 'we were topped off.' He then used a dip-stick provided in the plane to check the quantity more accurately. I asked how much we had, and he said about 39 to 40 gallons...after the accident, I checked and found that the dip-stick...was not the correct one." The PIC further stated that, "...prior to takeoff I glanced at the fuel gauges...and I would have say they were somewhere between 3/4 and full...climbing thru about 4,500 feet msl...the engine started to run rough. Carb [sic] heat smoothed it out for a few seconds, but then the engine quit altogether...we went thru the engine-out checklist in an effort to get a restart, never thinking we had run out of fuel...we noted the right fuel gauge reading empty. The left gauge...read about 1/2 to 2/3 full." The PIC said that the second pilot picked out a field and asked "...what I thought of it. I said go for it." As they descended the PIC said he "...spotted a fairly straight rural road off to the right. As we got lower, I did not like the looks of the field, its furrows, trees at the end, and our height above." The PIC told the second pilot that, "...I was taking control of the airplane and heading for the road...we spotted a couple of wires across the road, which we passed over. However, I still had to contend with the wires running parallel along the left side of the road. There were 4 wires, and as I tried to fit the C182 between them and trees on a bank lining the right side, I clipped the inner of the four wires. It decelerated us somewhat and deflected us to the right, whereupon the right wing tip hit a pine tree...we struck the ground, collapsed the nose gear and mains, and then we slid...the Hobbs hour meter showed 2.1 hours...inspection of the airplane revealed no fuel in the tanks...I can only speculate as to the reason(s) for this fuel exhaustion accident." The FAA inspector, who examined the wreckage, stated that he removed the fuel caps, and that "both caps were firmly on." He said the right wing had come to rest wing high, he looked into the tank, and he "...could not detect any fuel in the tank." He then removed the fuel caps from the left tank, and "...no fuel could be detected." He removed the wing inspection panel located at the top of the wing near the outboard section of the fuel tank. According to the inspector, "...located in the front corner of the tank was about one pint of fuel. Both fuel tanks had maintained their structural integrity. There was no evidence fuel had vented overboard via caps, fuel vent, or drains. There was fuel in the fuel strainer (the low point of the fuel system). When the fuel line that went from the engine to just above the fuel strainer was disconnected very little fuel came out...the amount would fit into the palm of a cupped hand." The pilot told the FAA that when he departed Asheville he had about 80 gallons of fuel, "enough to fly conservatively approximately 5.5 hours. The aircraft had flown 2.1 hours." The accident airplane had a wet wing fuel tank, with a total fuel capacity of 92 gallons, with 88 gallons being usable fuel. According to what the pilot told the FAA, the fuel was checked by dipping a finger in the fuel tank. The fuel was about 1 1/2 inches from the top. The fuel was then checked with a clear plastic tube with gallon markers on it, and "it indicated approximately 40 gallons per tank." The FAA inspector stated that prior to the accident flight on June 30, 1999, the airplane had not been flown since June 27, 1999. According to the inspector's statement, "...on that day it [N4784N] was returned by a renter...who had flown it a total of 6.5 hours on the Hobbs. He had originally departed Asheville on Saturday, June 26, 1999. According to the renter he departed with topped tanks. The only fuel he had put into the aircraft during the 6.5 hours was 10 gallons at the last departure point Roanoke, Virginia...the operator of the aircraft has no record that the aircraft was fueled between its return on June 27 and the flight which led to the accident." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4784N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4784N-2013-08-08), registration cancelled 2013-08-08, S/N 18267367, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182Q - Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18267367 - Airframe hours: 1901 - Engines: Continental O-470U 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Asheville Jet Center - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 24, 1999, 63 hours before - Departed: AVL, ASHEVILLE, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 4,300 total, 400 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 118 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: AVL ## 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 19990630007939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990630007939A), Jun 30, 1999: Cessna 182Q, Rock Spring, NC, Substantial damage. Acft experienced an engine failue, and the pilot made an emergency landing on a highway, other circumstances are unknown.(-23)ptrs #MIA99LA192 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.