# NTSB WPR22LA024: Cessna 182Q, N25WX, St Ignatius, MT, October 24, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 24, 2021, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: St Ignatius, MT · Near airport property - Coordinates: 47.325, -114.08083 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3250&lon=-114.0808&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 104193 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104193/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104193 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA024 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while enroute for the return flight home, the engine lost power. He maneuvered the airplane to a nearby airport for an emergency landing. The airplane landed short of the runway, impacted a fence, and came to rest in an irrigation ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot stated that he relied on the fuel flow monitor gauge to determine fuel level and that the gauge was indicating that he had 15 gallons of fuel remaining at the time of the loss of engine power. He further reported that the gauge apparently was not properly reset for the fuel level after coming out of recent maintenance or during his first flight following that maintenance and that the actual fuel quantity was less than expected for the accident flight. He stated that there was a 15-gallon discrepancy and that the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event) - [Approach: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25WX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25WX-2024-01-13), registration cancelled 2024-01-13, S/N 18266453, built 1978 (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: 18266453 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 2719 - Engines: Continental IO-550-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cirrus Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 2021, 41 hours before - Departed: 7S0, Ronan, MT - Destination: KMSO, Missoula, MT - Airport: 52S, St Ignatius, runway 08, 2,610 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Airframe parachute, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Heads up display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 31, 2020; seat: left; flight hours: 1,217 total, 247 in this make and model, 1,217 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.62 inHg - Observed at: KMSO, 24 nm away - METAR: KMSO 241753Z 14010KT 10SM CLR 08/03 A2962 RMK AO2 SLP039 T00780033 10083 21006 58023 ## 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 20211024018129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211024018129A), Oct 24, 2021: Cessna 182Q, St. Ignatius, MT, Substantial damage. On October 24,2021, at 1140 MDT, a Cessna 182Q, N25WX,[privacy data omitted]collided with an irrigation ditch on emergency landing at 52S, St. Ignatius… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 21, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104193. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12920970&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA024%206120%20Pilot%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12898276&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20photo-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.