Haines City, FL, USA
N8304S
Cessna 182
The pilot stated that he departed about 1845 to his destination with a planned stop en route to attend to some personal matters. He arrived at his stop about 1950, and departed there about 2015. He reached a cruising altitude of 7,500 feet, and estimated that it would take 2 hours and 25 minutes to reach his destination per his GPS. During his descent to his destination, at 5,500 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot was able to land the airplane in an orange grove 1 mile west of Highway 27, 14 miles south of his destination. The airplane skidded 200 feet before the nose gear separated, and the airplane nosed over. No fuel was observed leaking from the wings, and there was no post accident fire. The right wing fuel cap was observed to be not fully secured and with fuel streak stains. In addition, the pilot stated that when he topped off the accident airplane before departing, he noticed a fuel dye residue on the wing, blue in color. He stated that he is almost certain he ran out of fuel; however, he should have had enough fuel to make it to his destination.
On December 23, 2005, about 2233, eastern standard time, a Cessna 182, N8304S, registered to and operated by Fayard Enterprise Inc., nosed over during a forced landing in an orange grove near Highway 27 in Haines City, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personnel flight. The commercial-rated pilot was not injured and the airplane incurred substantial damaged. The flight originated from the Louisville Municipal Airport (2J3), Louisville, Georgia, earlier that day, about 2015. The pilot stated he departed from Raeford, NC (5W4) about 1845 en route to Lake Wales, FL. (X07), with a planned stop at (2J3) to attend to some personal items there. He arrived at (2J3) about 1950, attended to the items, and departed at about 2015. He reached a cruising altitude of 7,500 feet and estimated that it would take 2 hours and 25 minute to reach (X07) as per his GPS. About 1 hour away from (X07) he noted the airplane's amp meter was indicating a discharge. He elected to turn off all non-essential electric equipment on board the airplane. The rest of the flight went normal until his descent to (X07), at 5,500 feet, the engine lost power. The engine power was regained a couple of times before it was totally lost again. He elected to land in an orange grove. During the landing roll the airplane encountered a ditch and the airplane flipped over. In addition, the pilot stated that when he topped of the accident airplane at (5W4), he noticed a fuel dye residue on the wing, blue in color. He is almost certain he ran out of fuel; however, he should have had plenty of fuel to make his destination. A completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report was not received for this accident. The responding FAA inspector stated the pilot topped off the airplane with 45 gals of fuel prior to the accident flight at (5W4). At the time of the accident the pilot estimated he should had had 40 minutes of fuel remaining. During the descent to the intended airport, about 2230, the engine quit and restarted twice before finally shutting down. Pilot was able to land the airplane in an orange grove 1 mile west of Highway 27, 14 miles south of (X07). The airplane skidded 200 feet before the nose gear separated and the airplane flipped over. No fuel was observed leaking from the wings and there was no post accident fire. The right wing fuel cap was observed not fully secured and with fuel streaks stains.
The pilot's improper preflight planning/preparation, and operation of equipment with known deficiencies, a right wing fuel cap leak, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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