Flight Details
The pilot departed Boise, Idaho, in a Lycoming O-540-L3C5D-powered Cessna TR182. The aircraft had full fuel tanks containing 88 usable gallons. The flight arrived at Fort Collins, Colorado, after 3.0 hours of tachometer time. The aircraft remained overnight at Fort Collins, where no overnight security was available.
Refueling
The following day, the aircraft was refueled with 30 gallons of fuel at Fort Collins. According to the fueler, 20 gallons were added to the right tank (to full) and 10 gallons to the left tank (to 3/4 full). A credit card receipt for the fueling was date/time stamped for 1712.
En Route Events
Radar track data showed the aircraft flying westbound, passing approximately 7 nautical miles south of Pocatello and 21 nautical miles north of Gooding, Idaho. Public airports with lighted runways and fuel were located in these areas.
Emergency Communication
At 2112, in dark night conditions, the pilot radioed Salt Lake Air Route Traffic Control, reporting an engine out. About one minute later, the pilot referenced a "field on fire" as a potential landing site.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft impacted terrain in the bottom of a shallow bowl (with a slope of about 12 degrees) in mountainous/hilly terrain. Throughout this area, a controlled burn was underway. The left wing outboard leading edge impacted first, followed by the engine. There was no post-crash aircraft-related fire. The landing gear were down, and the flaps were retracted.
Fuel and Performance Data
The tachometer at the accident site read a total of 6.6 hours from the Boise departure reading. Less than a pint of fuel was extracted from the aircraft's fuel system, and there was no evidence of fuel leakage or staining on the aircraft. The Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) performance data section showed the highest cruise fuel burn rate for the aircraft's engine was about 15.2 gallons per hour. However, documentation found within the aircraft, tracking tach times, fuel, locations, and dates from 1996 forward, referenced fuel burn rates ranging as high as 19.0 gallons per hour.