Cessna 182A accident near Watertown, South Dakota, July 31, 2009
On July 31, 2009 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N2131G, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Watertown, South Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of a fuel tank leak. Contributing to the accident was the reported malfunction of the fuel gauge.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 2009 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Watertown, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N2131G · no longer on the register · serial 51431
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had his fuel tanks filled and that he checked them during his preflight prior to departure on a cross country flight. He experienced a loss of engine power about 3.25 hours into the flight and performed a forced landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage when the airplane impacted a "hidden gully." The pilot reported, "At the time of the engine failure, the right tank was registering slightly over 1/2 full." According to the pilot the left wing had a stain from gasoline "that had not been there prior to takeoff."
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel storage › Failure
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel indication system › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,144 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 14, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,563.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 2009
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSH Oshkosh WI at 12:00 pm
- Destination: POY Powell WY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from ATY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N2131G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.