Cessna 182P HK-1519 Fuel Exhaustion Incident in Meta, Colombia (HK1519)

Incident Overview and Location Details On November 23, 2012, at 16:10 local time, a Cessna 182P with registration HK-1519 experienced a serious incident at Finca La Esperanza, Vereda Santa Cruz, in the Meta Department of Colombia. The aircraft was owned and operated by Aeromenegua Ltda. and was on a scheduled flight from Villavicencio to Cumaribo and back. The outbound leg was completed normally with three passengers on board. During the return leg, with no passengers aboard, the engine stopped while the aircraft was approximately six nautical miles from Villavicencio airport. ## Operational Sequence and Emergency Landing The pilot attempted to restart the engine without success and decided to make an emergency landing on a visible fumigation strip. The aircraft did not reach the strip, stopping 185 meters short of its threshold. During the ground run, the nose gear detached, and the aircraft ended in a ditch, causing damage to the lower engine cowling and bending one propeller blade. The pilot exited the aircraft unharmed on his own, and no fire occurred. ## Aircraft and Maintenance Status The aircraft, a Cessna 182P (serial C1826398), was equipped with a Continental O-470-S engine and a McCauley 2A34C 203C propeller. It had a total of 10,950:31 flight hours. The last 200-hour inspection was completed on November 6, 2012, and the aircraft met all maintenance and airworthiness requirements. Post-incident inspections found no engine damage, normal oil levels, and no fuel leaks or broken lines. The left fuel tank was empty, while the right tank contained approximately 15 gallons. ## Investigation Findings and Probable Cause The investigation determined that the serious incident was caused by a failure in flight planning and fuel management, resulting in the engine stopping due to fuel exhaustion in the main left tank during descent. The pilot had fueled the aircraft with 60 gallons, adding to a 13-gallon remainder for a total of 73 gallons. The flight manual established 2 gallons as unusable fuel. The pilot was a 54-year-old Colombian with 3,807:07 total flight hours and a valid medical certificate. Meteorological conditions were stable and suitable for safe flight. No toxic substances or psycho-physical factors affected the pilot.