Cessna 182B N7143E accident near Waimea, Hawaii

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate monitoring of the fuel status while en route, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

NTSB analysis

The pilot, who was a flight instructor, seated in the left seat, stated that while approaching their destination airport during the non-instructional flight, the engine “sputtered” and lost all power due to fuel starvation. The pilot made a forced landing into an open field short of the runway. During the forced landing roll, the airplane impacted a herd of sheep and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.

Postaccident examination revealed no abnormalities with the airplane’s fuel system or engine that would have prevented normal operation. However, the wings had been removed and any fuel onboard was discarded before the postaccident examination of the wreckage. The pilot reported they departed with 70 gallons of fuel in the airplane.

The student pilot-rated passenger, seated in the right seat, reported the pilot stated they had three hours of fuel onboard for the two-hour flight. Both pilots reported that the fuel selector was in the BOTH position and that, after the accident, the left fuel tank was empty and the right fuel tank still contained fuel.

The pilot stated that the engine lost total power due to fuel starvation. The pilot likely did not monitor the fuel quantity during the flight. Had the fuel quantity gauges been monitored, the pilot would have recognized the imbalance.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC25LA013 for the full record.