Cessna 182 N958HP accident near Winfield, Texas

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power due to the pilot’s improper fuel management, which led to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the low altitude at which the loss of engine power occurred.

NTSB analysis

About 4.1 hours after the pilot’s departure to conduct a pipeline patrol flight, the engine began to “sputter” and “run rough” while at an altitude about 850 ft above the ground. The pilot was unable to restore engine power by “switching fuel tanks a couple of times” and selecting a full-rich fuel mixture. The engine “surged” between idle and a high rpm a couple of times before it lost all power. The pilot located an open field for a forced landing, but the airplane was unable to stop before it collided with a fence and trees that bordered the field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.

Postaccident examination revealed that the right-wing fuel tank was breached during impact and contained about 1 gallon of fuel. The left-wing fuel tank remained intact and contained about 1 gallon of fuel. The cockpit fuel selector lever was found in the BOTH position; however, the shaft between the cockpit fuel selector lever and the fuel selector valve disconnected during impact. Testing of the fuel selector valve established that fuel from the left fuel tank was being used at the time of the accident and confirmed normal valve operation in all selectable positions.

The pilot reported that the flight departed with full fuel tanks (88 gallons usable) and was unsure of the fuel selector position before the engine began to run rough. Based on the reported fuel consumption rate of 10 to 11 gallons per hour, the airplane would have used about one-half of its fuel capacity when the loss of engine power occurred after 4.1 hours of flight. It is likely that the pilot departed with the fuel selector valve positioned to an individual fuel tank, instead of using fuel simultaneously from both tanks, which resulted in fuel starvation and the loss of engine power. Additionally, the low altitude at which the loss of engine power occurred significantly reduced the amount of time available to the pilot to troubleshoot and restore engine power before the forced landing.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN20LA245 for the full record.