LOS LUNAS, NM, USA
N1672M
CESSNA 182P
BEFORE THE FLT, THE PLT PREFLIGHTED THE ACFT & DRAINED THE WING SUMPS. HE DID NOT NOTICE ANY WATER OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS IN THE FUEL. HE DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE TANK CAPS OR FUEL LEVEL, BUT RELIED ON THE FUEL GAGES, WHICH HE BELIEVED WERE ACCURATE. HE KNEW THE LEFT TANK WAS NEAR EMPTY & ESTIMATED THERE WAS 35 GAL REMAINING IN THE RGT TANK. ABOUT 10 MIN AFTER TAKING OFF ON A FLT FROM ALBUQUERQUE TO BELEN, NM, THE ENG LOST POWER & WOULD NOT RESTART. THE PLT RPRTD THAT DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING, HE BEGAN HIS FLARE TOO LOW, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN 'TOO FLAT' & THEN THE NOSE WHEEL HIT A MOUND & THE ACFT NOSED OVER. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN EITHER TANK, THOUGH FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL LINES & GASCOLATOR. THE ENGINE WAS OPERATIONALLY CHECKED & IT RAN SMOOTHLY TO 2100 RPM.
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXAUSTION FROM AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FALSE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATION, HARD LANDING BY THE PILOT, AND UNEVEN TERRAIN CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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