Cessna 182 N5813B accident near Dandrige, Tennessee

Probable cause

The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of poor planning.

NTSB analysis

The pilot stated that he fueled the airplane for two flights with skydivers and thirty minutes of reserve fuel. He further stated that during the second approach he had to adjust his intended flight path for other airplane traffic. Then, as the pilot decreased the pitch of the airplane on final approach, the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot landed the airplane in a field; however, during the landing roll the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that the airplane experienced fuel starvation and that he did not maintain the required reserve. The pilot indicated that more fuel would have been his recommendation to avoid this accident.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA11CA430 for the full record.