Cessna 182M N91606

Summary

On 20 April 2021 at about 20:13 local time, a Cessna 182M registered N91606, operated by Zoltak Terrence A, was involved in an accident near Eufaula, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 April 2021 at 20:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Eufaula, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

31.7986, -85.1729

Aircraft

Cessna 182M

Registration

N91606

Category

Airplane

Year built

1969

Engines

1

Operator

Zoltak Terrence A

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Milton → Eufaula

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA21LA190

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight when the engine lost total power. The pilot selected a field for landing, during which the airplane impacted a barbed wire fence, nosed over, and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage. Fueling records and flight track information indicated that the airplane was most recently serviced about 4 flight hours before the accident, at which time both 40-gallon fuel tanks were filled to capacity. The airplane’s average fuel consumption rate was about 14 gallons per hour. Examination of the airplane found no fuel in either tank; examination of the accident site revealed fuel blighting of the vegetation and a strong odor of fuel in the soil beneath where the right fuel cap was located. There was no such evidence in the area beneath where the left fuel cap was located. The pilot reported that he departed with the fuel selector positioned to BOTH. Based on estimated fuel consumption calculations and the subsequent discovery of an undetermined amount of fuel spillage, it was likely that sufficient fuel was available for the flight. After recovery of the airplane, an engine start was attempted. The engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously until the engine was stopped using the cockpit controls. The airplane was sold before the airframe and fuel system examination could be scheduled and before the wreckage was released from the investigation, and it was disassembled by its new owner. Therefore, the reason for the loss of engine power was not determined based on the available information.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.