Cessna 182B N2515G

Summary

On 10 April 1997 at about 00:42 local time, a Cessna 182B registered N2515G was involved in an accident near Tullahoma, Tennessee, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 April 1997 at 00:42

Classification

Accident

Location

Tullahoma, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Tullahoma Regional Arpt (THA)

Coordinates

35.3698, -86.2002

Aircraft

Cessna 182B

Registration

N2515G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cross City → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

MIA97LA127

1 person was seriously injured.

Fuel exhaustion for undetermined reasons and unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilot to divert to an alternate airport while en route after recognizing that the fuel consumed was greater than the planned amount for the flight duration.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight departed with full fuel tanks and during cruise flight the pilot noted that the fuel gauge needles were bouncing and indicating between empty and 1/4 full. The flight continued then during cruise flight about 5-6 minutes later and 3 hours 6 minutes into the flight, the engine quit. The pilot initiated an emergency descent then while over unsuitable terrain, he landed the airplane in trees. Post crash examination of the fuel tank in the left wing which was separated revealed it contained about 1/4 cup of fuel. The fuel tank in the right wing which was attached was found empty. No fuel stains were noted aft of each fuel cap or aft of each fuel tank sump drain fitting. The estimated time en route was calculated to be 3 hours 13 minutes. The pilot stated that historically the fuel consumption is 12.5 to 13.0 gallons per hour. No determination could be made as to the reason for the excess fuel consumption.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.