Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Carmi, Illinois 62821
Friday, December 4, 2009 10:40 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the airplane, which was equipped with long range fuel tanks, had been fully fueled five days prior to the flight. After 3.8 hours of flight time, the engine began to surge then lost power. After unsuccessful attempts at restarting the engine, the pilot made an off-airport forced landing during which the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination determined that the right fuel cap was missing, although the chain and spring clip were still in place. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to act as a safety aircraft for Operation Migration. She stated that most of the flying involves making right-hand turns, which results in a higher fuel quantity in the right tank than in the left. The right fuel quantity indicator was indicating 3/8 to 1/2 tank of fuel and the left fuel tank was lower when the engine lost power. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger viewed the top of the wings twice after the airplane was fueled: once to install the canopy cover and again to remove the canopy cover. The fuel cap was not checked for security nor was the fuel level visually checked after the airplane was fueled five days prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's failure to assure that the fuel tank filler cap was secured prior to flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/4/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1040
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Carmi
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 62821
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 380522N
Event Location Longitude 0880915W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1105 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID CUL
Elevation of weather observation facility 388
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.28
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26528
NTSB Notification Source FAA-IND-FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2009 3:20PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number C-GZYU
NTSB Number CEN10CA067
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 182
Aircraft Series Identifier Q
Aircraft Serial Number 182-66301
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 7 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2394
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Donald Lounsbury
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Windham Centre
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country CA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Donald Lounsbury
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Windham Centre
Operator State --
Operator Country CA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 1H2
Departure City Effingham
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 655
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 1H2
Destination City Effingham
Destination State IL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 15 2009 2:45PM
User who most recently changed record sulp
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --