On July 30, 1994, a Cessna 182P (registration N20707) operated by Wayne J. Mooneyham was involved in an aviation accident near Livermore, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED MARGIN WHILE MANEUVERING AND HIS SUBSEQUENT ENTRY INTO AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH. A FACTOR WAS FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SELECT THE PROPER FUEL TANK. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During climbout, an aircraft experienced engine roughness. The pilot switched fuel tanks and attempted to return but stalled and impacted short of the runway. Post-accident examination found no mechanical issues but fuel starvation in the selected tank.
What Happened
During climbout, the engine began to run rough. The pilot moved the fuel selector from the both position to the right main tank and attempted a 180-degree turn back to the airport. The aircraft did not have sufficient power or altitude to reach the runway. Witnesses reported that the aircraft stalled at low altitude and impacted terrain in an open field approximately 500 feet short of the departure end of the runway.
Examination and Findings
After the crash, fuel was observed seeping from the left main fuel tank vent line. Recovery personnel drained approximately 15 gallons of fuel from the left main tank. The aircraft's fuel selector switch was found positioned on the right main fuel tank. No visible fuel was present in that tank. An examination of the engine and related systems revealed no mechanical abnormalities. No leaks or blockages were found in any of the fuel lines or either fuel tank.