DELAND, FL, USA
N6418A
CESSNA 182
WHILE ON CLIMB OUT AFTER DROPPING A BANNER FOLLOWING THE 3 HOUR FLT, THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TO THE FIELD, BUT THE ACFT STALLED & IMPACTED THE GROUND NOSE & LT WING LOW. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE RT FUEL TANK. THE RT FUEL TANK WAS NOT RUPTURED. IT WAS DRAINED WHICH REVEALED THAT IT CONTAINED APRX 3.1 GALS OF FUEL. THE UNUSABLE FUEL FOR EACH TANK IN ALL FLT CONDITIONS IS 2.5 GALS. THE CARBURETOR BOWL AND FUEL LINES TO THE CARBURETOR DID NOT CONTAIN ANY FUEL. THE ENG WAS STARTED & FOUND TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE FUEL SELECTOR HAS FOUR POSITIONS; LEFT, RIGHT, BOTH, & OFF. THE PLT STATED THAT THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT HE HAD ONLY SLEPT 2-3 HRS. WHEN ASKED HOW THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HE STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE SLEEP & PLACED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE BOTH POSITION.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER AIRSPEED (VS) RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE INCORRECT FUEL SELECTOR POSITION RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AND FATIGUE OF THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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