The pilot reported that during a cross-country flight at dusk, the Cessna 182 encountered greater head winds than planned.
He made several engine power and mixture adjustments to compensate for the increased wind velocity and to maintain altitude.
About 15 miles prior to reaching the destination airport, the engine lost power. He attempted to troubleshoot the loss of engine power to no avail and initiated a forced landing near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
The airplane collided with trees, sustaining substantial damage to the wings, the fuselage, and empennage. He sustained minor injuries in the crash.
The pilot believed that his fuel planning for the accident flight was insufficient, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. He added that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a collision with trees and terrain.
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This September 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
If there’s any doubt about reaching a destination before the fuel runs out a power pilot should take a leaf out of the glider pilot’s handbook.
A/S should be reduced from cruise to max range speed . In this case the latter will be a little above best glide , plus half the headwind component .
But how many are prepared to do this? Most carry on at speed hoping to get there with fingers crossed ‘ before the fuel runs out ! ‘ from my readings of these type of accidents .
I keep my tanks full. I like to think it will help keep the bladders in better condition and last longer.
Over water, at night, single engine, low on gas, sweating would not be the only clean up in aisle 4 needed when I landed.
Wrong thread, sorry about that
I have to admit I’m baffled too. I top off before every flight not local and even then have been teased about being “too cautious”. I might have an emergency one day but unless a careless duck hunter peppers my tanks it will never be from lack of fuel.
Burn him at the stake. Crucify him. Frankly, I made the same mistake 50 years ago, returning from the Bahamas to central US. It was a beautifully clear night. The winds started picking up about dusk. I landed with about 20 minutes of remaining fuel and a sweat soaked shirt.
When I received my ticket, I was told it was my learning ticket. Oh boy, did I learn from my first real life experience. During the following 50 years of aviating, I never came even remotely near running out of fuel regardless of the circumstances.
I’m sure the FAA had a “rigorous” conversation with him not to mention the cost of his poor planning. Rather than crucify the guy, I encourage him to learned from his expensive and harrowing experience.
If it happens a second time then crucify him.
The daily fuel exhaustion story. Is it my imagination? Or have there been about one or two GA crashes every day or week for months now? Many of them fuel exhaustion causes? Where does this all lead? I suspect/expect/fear Fed Gov regulations and calls for fines and/or imprisonment for stupidity and incompetence that causes injury and death to people in the planes and on the grounds, destruction of property on the ground, and of the plane which injures insurance companies and raises insurance premiums on all the GA community. Certain elements of this glorious hobby are the rotten apples spoiling the while basket. /J
More ‘stupid pilot tricks’, by a low time pilot.
Making a 290 nm flight at night with 44 gallons of fuel. He planned on 3 hours with 1 hr of fuel remaining.
There was no mention of a wx brief, but winds slowed him by 1 hr….so he got close and the result…no more fuel -> crash.!
Dumb for a couple of reasons;
– flying over mountains at night
– why not add another 11 gallons for 2 hrs added fuel ? [ 55 gal capacity tanks ]
– when he knew he was low on fuel, why not stop at one of the 3 airports along his path , to add fuel ?
Fortunately he survived the crash, but his aircraft is now junk.!