Preliminary Report Released From June 12 Mishap

The NTSB has released its preliminary report from an accident which occurred on June 12, 2019 at about 1100 eastern daylight time. The Cessna 182E, N3051Y, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Maitland, FL. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. VFR conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from Executive Airport (KORL), Orlando, FL about 1055 enroute to Massey Ranch Airpark (X50), New Smyrna, FL. The airplane was owned and operated by Golden Corner Flying Club.

Earlier on the day of the accident, the pilot and passenger flew the airplane from Oconee County Regional Airport (KCEU), Clemson, South Carolina, to KORL. A fuel receipt revealed that the pilot purchased 21.1 gallons of fuel prior to departing KCEU. The flight plan that was filed indicated that the airplane departed KCEU with 4 hours of fuel on board. According to radar data obtained from the FAA, the flight from KCEU to KORL took about 3.10 hours. The pilot did not purchase fuel at KORL before departing for X50.

According to preliminary air traffic control radio communication information provided by the FAA, the pilot declared an emergency at 1059 to Central Florida Terminal Radar Approach Control and stated that the airplane was not getting fuel out of the right tank. The pilot asked for the closest airport to land and the controller told him that ORL was the closest airport. The controller cleared him to land and advised the pilot he was cleared to make a left or right turn back to the airport and to switch radio frequency back to the tower controller at ORL. The pilot also reported to the tower controller that the airplane was not getting fuel out of the right tank. The controller cleared him to land on runway 13, but the pilot did not respond, and no further communications were received from the accident airplane.

A witness stated that he was in a boat on the northeast side of Lake Maitland when he heard and saw an airplane flying overhead. The engine was sputtering "like it was running out of gas." He watched the airplane fly over the lake to the north, make a 180° turn back to the lake, and thought the pilot was trying to make a water landing. The witness was in the path of the airplane, so he started the boat motor and drove perpendicular to the airplane's path to stay out of the way. The witness further stated it looked like the airplane may have hit some treetops at the edge of the water because the airplane drastically nosed over and went straight into the water and hit "very hard." He immediately went over to the airplane, which was still on top of the water; however, it quickly sank.

The airplane was located about 5 miles north of KORL in Lake Maitland, at a depth of 20 ft. Two gallons of fuel was removed from each wing tank and the single auxiliary tank. The left wing remained attached to the airframe. The flap and aileron were still attached to the wing. The fuel tank was intact and not breached. The fueling cap was attached and secured to the fuel tank. The fuselage was intact and not damaged. The rudder, elevator and vertical stabilizer were attached and not damaged. The right wing remained attached to the airframe. The flap and aileron were still attached to the wing. The fuel tank was intact and not breached. The fueling cap was attached and secured to the fuel tank. The main landing gear was attached and not damaged. Both doors were attached and not damaged.

The instrument panel was intact; however, the panel was separated from its mounts. The throttle, mixture, and propeller controls were all in the most forward position. The fuel selector valve was in the right tank position. The auxiliary fuel pump switch was in the off position. The lap belts and shoulder harnesses remained attached. The propeller was attached to the engine; one blade was bent forward, the second blade tip was bent, and the third blade was straight. The bottom engine cowl was crushed consistent with impact damage. The muffler and airbox were crushed. The top engine cowling was not damaged. The engine remained attached to the engine mounts and was not damaged. Flight control continuity was established to all flight controls by moving the control wheel and rudder pedals to verify movement.

The airplane was recovered to a salvage facility and secured to a trailer in preparation for an engine run. The magnetos were dried out and the carburetor and spark plugs were cleaned of water. The aviation fuel that was removed from the airplane was separated from the water and used to start the engine. The engine started without hesitation and ran continuously for about 3 minutes at different power settings.

The four-seat, single-engine, high-wing airplane was built in 1962, and powered by a 375-horsepower Continental O-520-series engine, equipped with a three-blade, constant speed Hartzell propeller. The most recent annual inspection was completed on April 4, 2019. Review of maintenance records revealed that at the time of the most recent annual inspection, the airframe total time was 5,835.49 hours, and the engine time was 1,578.69 hours since major overhaul.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate, with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA second class medical certificate was issued on October 1, 2018. He reported 1,000 total hours of flight experience at that time.

(Source: NTSB. Image from file. Not accident airplane)

FMI: www.ntsb.org