Accident Overview
On May 24, 2008, at approximately 1935 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182D (registration N8855X) was substantially damaged when it struck an abandoned structure following a loss of engine power near Chehalis, Washington. The private pilot and two of the three passengers were not injured, while the third passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight had departed from Lynden, Washington, around 1830.
Flight Sequence
The pilot reported attempting to refuel at Lynden but was unable because the airport had no fuel available. Despite this, he decided to continue the flight to his home in Vancouver, Washington. While over Olympia, Washington, the engine "missed," and the pilot adjusted the mixture to full rich, after which the engine ran normally. The flight continued, but near Chehalis, the engine lost all power. The pilot noted that the left fuel tank indicated empty and switched to the right tank, which showed between 3/8 and 1/2 full. The engine briefly regained power before losing it again.
Emergency Landing
The pilot turned toward Chehalis Airport intending an emergency landing. Being too high, he executed a 360-degree turn to reduce altitude. During the turn, he realized he was losing too much altitude to reach the runway and selected an open field short of the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with the foundation of an old structure.
Post-Accident Inspection
A post-accident inspection revealed the left wing fuel cap was missing. Blue-colored streaking was visible on the top of the left wing, flap, and side of the fuselage. Approximately half a gallon of fuel remained in the right tank; the left tank was empty.
Investigation at Origin
The Lynden Police Department was asked to inspect the area around the fueling station at Lynden Municipal Airport. An officer reported finding a four-inch aluminum gasoline cap on the tarmac about 61 feet north of the fuel pump.