# NTSB WPR12CA069: Cessna 208, N275PM, Mesquite, NV, December 17, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 17, 2011, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Mesquite, NV - Coordinates: 36.833057, -114.055831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8331&lon=-114.0558&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 8, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82532 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82532/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82532 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA069 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper preflight planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=2073702), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2073702), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073702), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Cessna 208, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2073702), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 208, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073702), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Cessna 208, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=2073702), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) ## Analysis Prior to the flight, the pilot fueled the airplane with 16 gallons of jet fuel. He planned to make two local flights carrying skydivers aloft. During the second skydiving flight, he delayed releasing the skydivers due to traffic in the area. As he turned the airplane back toward the drop zone, the airplane's engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot signaled the skydivers to exit the airplane, feathered the propeller, and executed a forced landing to the runway. The airplane landed long, went off the end of the runway, across a road, and finally came to rest on a golf course. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. He also stated that the cause of the loss of engine power was poor fuel management and fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative Prior to the flight, the pilot fueled the airplane with 16 gallons of jet fuel. He planned on making two local flights carrying skydivers aloft. During the second skydiving flight he delayed releasing the skydivers due to traffic in the area. As he turned the plane back towards the drop zone the airplane's engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot signaled the skydivers to exit the airplane, feathered the propeller, and executed an attempted forced landing to the runway. The airplane landed long, went off the end of the runway, across a road, and finally came to rest on a golf course. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. He also stated that the cause of the loss of engine power was poor fuel management and fuel exhaustion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N275PM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N275PM-2017-04-17), registration cancelled 2017-04-17, S/N 20800119, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 208 - Registry model: [Cessna 208](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208) (registry code 2073702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20800119 - Engines: P&W PT6A SER 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Operator: Skydive Mesquite - Registered owner: Spokane Turbine Skydiving LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: K67L, Mesquite, NV - Destination: K67L, Mesquite, NV - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: K67L, Mesquite Airport, runway 19, 5,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 19, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,022 total, 131 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KSGU, 27 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 20111217028239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111217028239A), Dec 17, 2011: Cessna 208, Mesquite, NV, Substantial damage. Pilot was flying aircraft for skydiving operations. Pilot stated that 16 gallons of fuel was added to the aircraft fuel system. Pilot stated that aircraft had… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82532. 572 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 572 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360880&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.