Cessna 182 N5954B

Summary

On 19 December 2016 at about 02:40 local time, a Cessna 182 registered N5954B was involved in an accident near Apple Valley, California, 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

19 December 2016 at 02:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Apple Valley, California, United States

Nearest airport

Apple Valley (APV)

Coordinates

34.6047, -117.1578

Aircraft

Cessna 182

Registration

N5954B

Category

Airplane

Year built

1956

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Watsonville → Barstow

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

GAA17CA098

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s mismanagement of the available fuel, which resulted in a loss of engine power and a subsequent hard, off-airport landing and nose-over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the single-engine airplane reported that, after traveling about 270 nautical miles (nm) to the destination airport, the pilot-controlled lighting would not illuminate when activated. The pilot diverted to an alternate airport that was 40 nm to the northeast, but the pilot reported that runway lighting was not available at the alternate airport. The pilot reported that he decided to fly about 70 nm southwest to another alternate airport, but the engine quit even though the fuel indicator showed that 1/4 tank of fuel remained. He reported that he entered a descending left turn, that he leveled the wings with no flaps, and that the airspeed was about 52 kts. The pilot recalled that the airplane landed hard and nosed over after the nose landing gear and propeller struck a berm. Substantial damage was sustained to both wings, the firewall, and empennage. During the airplane recovery, the fuel selector was photographed in the right wing tank position. The left tank did not have any fuel in the tank, and the right tank contained about 2 cups of fuel. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) avionics inspector present during the examination of the airplane's radios and antennas, no failures or malfunctions were identified. According to the FAA Airport Facility Directory, both the destination and diversion airports were equipped with medium intensity runway lighting, and the first airport the pilot diverted from was equipped with precision approach path indicator lights. No NOTAMS pertaining to lighting were issued at these airports on the date of the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.