# NTSB SEA08LA100: Cessna 182A, N5931B, Buckeye, AZ, March 30, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 29, 2008, 17:00 local (Mar 30, 2008, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Buckeye, AZ - Coordinates: 33.420276, -112.686111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4203&lon=-112.6861&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67739 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67739/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA100 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the soft terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was returning to the departure airport following the release of skydivers. The airplane was on a straight in approach to the runway during windy conditions when the engine lost power. The pilot applied full throttle but the engine did not respond. Due to the wind conditions, the pilot was unable to glide the airplane to the runway and force-landed in a field. During the landing in the soft terrain, the nose gear broke off and the wings impacted the ground. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and test ran the engine following the accident. No operational or mechanical anomalies were observed. ## Factual narrative On March 29, 2008, at 1700 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182A, N5931B, lost engine power during landing and the pilot force-landed the airplane about 1 mile north of Buckeye Municipal Airport, Buckeye, Arizona. Desert Skydiving Center was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, he was making a straight in approach to runway 17 and it was very windy. When he was approximately 2 miles from the end of the runway, the engine lost power. He applied full power but the engine did not respond. Due to the wind conditions, he was unable to glide to the runway and landed in a field. During the landing in the soft desert terrain, the nose gear broke off and the wings impacted the ground. The responding deputy verified 5 gallons of fuel in the left fuel tank, and 15 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank. The pilot indicated that prior to the loss of power, the fuel selector was positioned on the right fuel tank. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane following its recovery from the field. The airplane was recovered with its wings and fuel system intact. The spark plugs were removed prior to the engine test run and they were light gray in color. The engine was powered using the airplane's fuel system. The venting system was examined and was free from obstructions. Optimal power was obtained and no anomalies were noted with the operation of the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5931B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5931B-2014-10-02), registration cancelled 2014-10-02, S/N 33931 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182A - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33931 - Airframe hours: 5952 - Engines: Teledyne Continental O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Operator: Desert Skydiving Center - Registered owner: Fandango Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 1, 2008, 76 hours before - Departed: KBXK, Buckeye, AZ - Destination: KBXK, Buckeye, AZ - Airport: BXK, Buckeye Municipal Airport, runway 17, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 755 total, 108 in this make and model, 755 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 12 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.73 inHg - Observed at: BXK, 1 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 20080329014009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080329014009A), Mar 29, 2008: Cessna 182A, Buckeye, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft impacted the ground 1 mile north of the runway. Investigators from this office found zero fuel in left wing and one inch of fuel in right wing.… ## Other investigations on N5931B (2) 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. - [NTSB MKC68F0490](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC68F0490), Feb 25, 1968: Cessna 182 (N5931B), Circle Pines, MN, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X4018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X4018), Sep 17, 1964: Cessna 182 (N5931B), Eureka, SD, substantial damage 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.