# NTSB SEA05LA187: Cessna 182E, N2942Y, Toutle, WA, September 4, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 4, 2005, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Toutle, WA - Coordinates: 46.403057, -122.698333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4031&lon=-122.6983&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62427 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA187 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62427/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA187 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power as a result of fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to properly secure the fuel caps during his self-servicing and (improperly) preflighting the airplane. A contributing factor was the utility pole. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - improperly serviced (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - utility pole (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that he had "topped the tanks" and secured the gas caps before his departure from Snohomish, Washington. He said that after approximately 30 minutes of flight, he noticed that the fuel tanks were reading approximately empty, and he "knew something was wrong." He immediately descended and headed for the nearest airport when the engine lost power. During the forced landing attempt, the aircraft impacted a utility pole and separated the outboard right wing tip. The airplane continued forward and rotated to the right, subsequently the left wing tip was bent/wrinkled against an earthen road embankment. Post accident evaluation by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector and the evaluation of photographs taken by the pilot indicate that both caps were improperly attached, and there was residual evidence that fuel had been streaming aft from each refueling cap. ## Factual narrative On September 4, 2005, at approximately 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182E, N2942Y, was substantially damaged when it impacted a utility pole during a forced landing attempt near Toutle, Washington. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Air Ward, Inc., of Novato, California was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight which had originated from Snohomish, Washington, approximately 45 minutes before the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan. The pilot said that he had "topped the tanks" and secured the gas caps before his departure from Snohomish. He said that after approximately 30 minutes of flight, he noticed that the fuel tanks were reading approximately empty, and he "knew something was wrong." He immediately descended and headed for the nearest airport when the engine quit. During the forced landing attempt, the aircraft impacted a utility pole and separated the outboard right wing tip. The airplane continued forward and rotated to the right, subsequently the left wing tip was bent/wrinkled against an earthen road embankment. Post accident evaluation by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector and the evaluation of photographs taken by the pilot indicate that both caps were improperly attached, and both fuel caps had bluish streak marks extending aft to the trailing edge of their wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2942Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2942Y-2007-03-07), registration cancelled 2007-03-07, S/N 18253942, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182E - Registry model: [Cessna 182E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182e) (registry code 2072712) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18253942 - Airframe hours: 6812 - Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Air Ward, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2005, 84 hours before - Departed: S43, Snohomish, WA - Destination: HIO, Hillsboro, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 974 total, 30 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 5 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: TDO, 8 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 20050904033979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050904033979A), Sep 4, 2005: Cessna 182E, Toledo, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot added 34 gal. Of fuel at snahomish airport. After fueling the right wing, the fuel cap was improperly replaced causing a fuel vent from the right… 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.