CESSNA 182E
Middletown Springs, VT — September 21, 2013
Event Information
| Date | September 21, 2013 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA13CA427 |
| Event ID | 20130923X91125 |
| Location | Middletown Springs, VT |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 43.79805, -73.21472 |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | CESSNA |
| Model | 182E |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 2 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 2 |
Probable Cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Full Narrative
The flight departed from a private airport that did not have fuel available for purchase. The pilot reported that he elected to refuel while en route to his destination instead of other airports located near the departure airport. The pilot further reported that upon reaching the airport that he intended to refuel at, he found it was closed and diverted to another airport. At that time, he noticed that the airplane's fuel gauge needles were "bouncing off empty." The airplane subsequently experienced a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall and forward portion of the fuselage. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and had he received a full weather briefing prior to the flight, he would have known about the closed airport and planned accordingly.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.