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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

June 14, 2015 · Cessna 182A · N5143D

Moab, UT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 14, 2015
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Moab, UT
Aircraft
Cessna 182A (1958)
Tail Number
N5143D
Operator
Skydive Canyonlands
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR15LA185

The commercial pilot reported that he maneuvered back toward the airport to land after dropping skydivers. During the approach for landing, about 1,000 ft above the airport, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and subsequently initiated a forced landing to the desert floor. The airplane departed with about 14 gallons of fuel on board, and the flight was about 30 to 35 minutes in duration. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the right wing fuel tank contained about 5 gallons of fuel, and the left wing fuel tank contained about 3 gallons. According to the airplane's operating limitations, 10 gallons of fuel is unusable in all flight attitudes (5 gallons per tank). Given a fuel consumption rate of about 12 gallons per hour and the fuel found in the wing tanks after the accident, it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel exhaustion.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning and inflight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Full Narrative

On June 13, 2015, about 1900 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182A airplane, N5143D, experienced a loss of engine power while on final approach to the Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY), Moab, Utah. The pilot subsequently made an off airport forced landing. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained structural damage to the tail section of the airplane. The airplane was operated by Skydive Canyonlands under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a skydiving operation. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight, and a company flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that there was a total of 14 gallons of fuel on board when he took the airplane and that no other fuel was added. The flight departed from runway 21, and he made several left turns to align the airplane with the intended drop zone. Once the jumpers exited the airplane, he flew on a northwestern heading for a few miles before he initiated a left turn for a return to the airport. About 3 miles from the airport, the engine lost power. The pilot tried unsuccessfully to restart the engine before initiating a forced landing on rough desert terrain. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel level in the right-side fuel tank was about 5 gallons, and the left-side fuel tank had about 3 gallons. According to the airplane's operating limitations, there is 10 gallons of unusable fuel, of which 7 gallons may be available, but only in level flight operations The company reported that this airplane burns about 12 gallons of fuel per hour; the accident flight was estimated to be 30-35 minutes. Neither the pilot nor the operator completed the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:00 MDT
Nearest AirportCanyonlands Field (0nm SW)
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182A
Tail NumberN5143D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSkydive Canyonlands
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCont Motor · O-470 SERIES · Reciprocating · 225
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 22 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind50° @ 19 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C
Altimeter29.81 inHg
Observation Time01:06
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data