Incident Details
The pilot of a Cessna 182L reported not visually checking the fuel quantity during the preflight walk-around inspection. Approximately 15 minutes after departure, the engine lost power. The pilot executed a forced landing on the Florida Turnpike. During the landing rollout, the left wing collided with a road sign, resulting in structural damage. The wing fuel tanks were not breached and no fuel spillage occurred.
Fuel Quantity Examination
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined that the total fuel load at the time of the accident was 2.5 gallons. This quantity was confirmed by the salvage crew when they removed the wings. According to the Cessna 182L type certificate data sheets, the unusable fuel amount is 30 pounds or 5.11 gallons. The measured fuel quantity was therefore less than the unusable amount.
Post-Accident Engine Test
Thirteen days after the accident, under the oversight of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the engine was started and operated smoothly to 2,000 rpm.