What happened
The flight originated in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with an initial departure at 1035. The aircraft arrived at Grand Forks, North Dakota, at 1150. After a stopover, the pilot departed Grand Forks at 1305. Approximately two hours later, at 1524, the accident occurred.
While flying approximately four miles northwest of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the pilot reported that the engine began running roughly. Shortly thereafter, the engine quit completely due to a lack of fuel. The pilot executed a forced landing in an open field located two and a half miles north of Sioux Falls.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed that there was little to no fuel remaining in the tanks at the time of the incident. The specific registration of the aircraft involved was N43210. The aircraft type was identified as a Cessna 182.
The investigation confirmed that the total fuel capacity of the aircraft was 62 gallons. However, the engine consumed approximately 15 gallons per hour during flight. Additionally, the fuel system contained 10 gallons of unusable fuel that could not be accessed by the engine.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the accident was fuel exhaustion. The pilot failed to ensure adequate fuel reserves for the duration of the flight segment between Grand Forks and Sioux Falls. Given the high consumption rate of 15 gallons per hour and the limited usable fuel available after accounting for the unusable portion, the aircraft ran out of fuel before reaching its intended destination or an alternate airport.
Safety message
Pilots must carefully calculate fuel requirements based on actual consumption rates and account for unusable fuel in their tanks. It is critical to monitor fuel levels continuously and plan for contingencies, ensuring sufficient reserves are available for the entire flight duration plus any potential delays.