Cessna 182G N3146S

Summary

On 2 May 2002 at about 21:45 local time, a Cessna 182G registered N3146S, operated by Silverwing Aviation, was involved in an accident near Tuckerman, Arkansas, 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

2 May 2002 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Tuckerman, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

35.7269, -91.2428

Aircraft

Cessna 182G

Registration

N3146S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Silverwing Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Leavenworth → Newport

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW02LA137

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's operation of the airplane with a known equipment deficiency, which resulted in fuel leakage and a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A contributing factors was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While in cruise flight, approximately two hours and ten minutes after departure, the engine lost power, and the pilot was unable to restart the engine. During the forced landing, the airplane touched down in a rice field. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear impacted a levee, and the airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted. Earlier in the day during a fuel stop, an individual loaned the pilot a pair of needle nose pliers after the pilot stated that the locking tabs were broken from the cap on the left main fuel tank. The individual suggested to the pilot that he purchase a new fuel cap; however, the pilot did not purchase one. At the departure airport, ground personnel reported to the pilot that the left main tank had a "bad fuel leak." After fueling the airplane, the pilot duct taped the left main fuel tank filler cap. An examination of the fuel system by an FAA inspector revealed that the left fuel filler cap was loose and its clip was broken. No fuel was found in either tank, and there was no evidence of a fuel spill; however, there was blue streaking from the left fuel tank filler port.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.