# NTSB WPR25LA217: Cessna TR182, N182KC, Tuba City, AZ, July 17, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: July 17, 2025, 14:47 local (21:47 UTC)
- Place: Tuba City, AZ
- Coordinates: 35.953021, -110.92471
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9530&lon=-110.9247&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200587
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA217
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200587/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA217

## Preliminary report

On July 17, 2025, about 1447 mountain standard time, a Cessna TR182, N182KC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tuba City, Arizona. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he departed with 62 gallons of fuel onboard and that he had verified the fuel quantity multiple times with a calibrated dipstick prior to departure. While enroute, and after switching to the right tank, which indicated about 31 gallons at the time, the engine began to run rough and sputter. He attempted to switch to BOTH fuel tanks, but the engine continued to sputter. The pilot activated the fuel boost pump, which displayed no fuel pressure at which time the engine lost all power. He executed a forced landing to the side of road to avoid vehicular traffic and with the landing gear stowed due to rough terrain. During landing the airplane belly contacted the ground, which substantially damaged the right wing and left elevator. Postaccident examination of the fuel tanks revealed that they were both empty; however, the pilot suspected a leak in the fuel delivery system. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna TR182, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna TR182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N182KC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N182KC), registered now, S/N R18201139, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA TR182
- Registry model: [Cessna TR182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tr182) (registry code 2072735) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R18201139
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 6061.5
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 20, 2024
- Departed: SNA, Santa Ana, CA
- Destination: FMN, Farmington, NM
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 8 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: KRQE, 62 nm away
- METAR: METAR KRQE 171953Z AUTO 21008G16KT 160V260 10SM FEW110 27/07 A3020 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE AND W AND NW SLP096 T02720067=

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.

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