Cessna 182A N4059D accident near Spokane Valley, Washington

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he planned a three-hour round trip cross-country flight. After landing at the destination, he conducted a walkaround inspection of the airplane before departing on the return flight but did not visually confirm the airplane’s fuel quantity. While enroute, he noted that the fuel quantity indications were low, and about 5 miles from the destination airport, the engine began to sputter, then lost total power. The pilot conducted a forced landing, during which the airplane landed hard and sustained substantial damage.

Postaccident examination of the airplane and accident site revealed no fuel in either fuel tank. Both fuel tanks were intact, and there were no signs of fuel leakage on the ground surrounding the airplane. According to the pilot, there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

The pilot later indicated that the airplane ran out of fuel due to high gross weight, high temperatures, and stronger than expected headwinds, and that his actual fuel consumption rate was about 3 gallons per hour more than he had calculated before the flight.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR24LA206 for the full record.