Marstons Mill, MA, USA
N403RA
Cessna 182A
The pilot checked the fuel quantity with a wooden stick and estimated 21 gallons of fuel was onboard for the parachute flight. The takeoff and climb to 10,000 feet msl, and release of the jumpers, was normal. On the return to the airport, while on the turn to base leg, the engine lost power. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with a tree and a house. Post accident examination of the airplane showed about 3 gallons of aviation fuel was recovered from the wreckage. The airplane's Type Certificate Data Sheet has an annotation of 10 gallons of the total fuel is unusable. Examination of the engine assembly, engine accessories, and airframe fuel system showed no evidence of precrash mechanical failure or malfunction.
On May 5, 2007, about 1105 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182A, N403RA, registered to and operated by Skydive Cape Cod, Inc., struck a tree and a house while making a forced landing following loss of engine power, in Marstons Mill, Massachusetts. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 skydiving flight. The commercial-rated pilot received serious injuries and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from the Cape Cod Airport (2B1), Marstons Mills, Massachusetts, earlier that day, about 1035. The pilot stated that he checked the fuel quantity with a wooden stick. He estimated 21 gallons of fuel were onboard for the skydiving flight. The ground run-up check and climb to 10,000 feet mean sea level (msl) was uneventful. Immediately after the skydivers' exited the airplane, he started the return back to the airport. He maneuvered the airplane for an approach to runway 35. While turning onto the base leg, at about 800 msl, the engine started to sputter and, about two seconds later, it lost power. He checked the fuel mixture, ignition, carburetor heat, and fuel selector valve and found no abnormalities. He realized that it was an emergency and transitioned the airplane to best-glide speed. He started to locate a suitable landing area while making an announcement over the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) about the emergency. He located a grass field and elected to land there. During the approach he realized the airplane was not going to reach the field, a house was in the glide path. He tried to maneuver away from the home without stalling. The last thing he recalled was the impact. The responding local authorities stated the airplane struck a tree, the house's chimney and roof, before impacting the ground, upside down, as it came to a stop against a vehicle. A representative of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Aeronautics Commission of Massachusetts were present during the recover of the wreckage. A total of three gallons of aviation fuel was recovered from the airplane.. A post recovery wreckage examination by the FAA inspector and representatives of the engine and airplane manufacturers was conducted. Approximately 4 ounces of blue colored fuel was in the firewall gascolator and about 1 ounce of fuel was in the carburetor bowl. No water or notable contaminates were observed in the fuel that was recovered. Examination of the engine assembly, engine accessories, and airframe fuel system showed no evidence of precrash mechanical failure or malfunction.
The pilot's improper preflight planning and preparation resulting in an in-flight loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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