# NTSB SEA07LA255: Cessna 182G, N2420R, Fairfield, ID, September 8, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 8, 2007, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Fairfield, ID - Coordinates: 43.350353, -114.979866 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3504&lon=-114.9799&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66648 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA255 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66648/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA255 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power as a result of fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis During the pre-flight inspection, the pilot did not visually check the quantity of fuel in the airplane's tanks. Approximately 2 hours into the flight, the engine lost power, and the pilot executed a forced landing to a clearing filled with sand, gravel and brush. During the landing roll, the nose wheel sank into the sand, and the nose landing gear separated. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident site and found no fuel in either the left or right fuel tank or in the header tank just forward of the firewall. Additionally, no fuel was present at the fuel injector spider on top of the engine. The inspector noted no evidence of fuel leakage onto the ground at the accident site or on the outer skins of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On September 8, 2007, about 0900 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182G, N2420R, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power approximately 20 miles north of Fairfield, Idaho. The private pilot and the passenger were not injured. The pilot was operating the airplane as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed from Twin Falls, Idaho, about 0700. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to spot elk. During his pre-flight inspection, he did not visually check the quantity of fuel in the airplane's tanks. He stated that he had filled the airplane with fuel two days prior to the day of the accident. He further stated that at the time of takeoff, both tanks registered full on the fuel gauges. Approximately 2 hours into the flight, the engine lost power, and the pilot executed a forced landing to a clearing filled with sand, gravel and brush. During the landing roll, the nose wheel sank into the sand, and the nose landing gear separated. The airplane sustained damage to the firewall and to the bottom fuselage structure. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident site and found no fuel in either the left or right fuel tank or in the header tank just forward of the firewall. Additionally, no fuel was present at the fuel injector spider on top of the engine. The inspector noted no evidence of fuel leakage onto the ground at the accident site or on the outer skins of the airplane. When power was applied, the fuel gauges indicated empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2420R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2420R-2018-03-20), registration cancelled 2018-03-20, S/N 18255520, 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: 18255520 - Airframe hours: 3550 - Engines: Continental IO-470-F 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2007 - Departed: TWF, Twin Falls, ID - Destination: TWF ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 2,500 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20070908018969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070908018969A), Sep 8, 2007: Cessna 182G, Fairfield, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 8, 2007 about 10 am local time, Cessna 182G, N2420R, serial number 182255520 experienced loss of engine power while on a personal flight 20… 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.