Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 195 near El Cajon, CA — 2022-08-18

Final reportWPR22LA308
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Date
2022-08-18
Location
El Cajon, CA, USA
Airport
SEE
Aircraft
CESSNA 195
Registration
N1097D
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to verify the fuel quantity prior to departure, which led to a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

NTSB narrative

The airplane had recently undergone maintenance, during which time the mechanic removed the fuel from the wings. The pilot stated that after completing the maintenance, the mechanic told him that he added the fuel back in the wings, so the pilot did not add any additional fuel. The pilot checked the quantity on the fuel gauges, but they were erroneous. He did not verify the quantity by doing a visual check of the actual fluid onboard. After departure, the engine stopped producing power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot made an off-airport landing on a freeway and the airplane came to rest adjacent to an onramp, about three miles short of the runway.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have visually checked fuel quantity before flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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