Cessna 182R accident near Lysite, Wyoming, October 12, 2003
On October 12, 2003 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N4981E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lysite, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's fuel mismanagement resulting in the loss of engine power and the subsequent forced landing. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing and the nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2003 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lysite, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N4981E · registry record · serial 18268285
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, while returning from surveying cattle on his ranch, he was flying approximately 500 feet agl when the engine lost power. The pilot stated that, the fuel gauge was indicating "10 to 15 [gallons] on the right and E[empty] on the left tank." The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but was unable to regain engine power. He turned towards a nearby ridgeline and made a forced landing. The airplane struck the ground, and nosed over. The pilot said that he had flown the airplane several times for a total of approximately 6 hours since he last refueled.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,238 hours in all; 2,111 in this make and model; 2,238 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,047.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 13, 2003; 68.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WY34 Lysite WY at 1:00 pm
- Destination: WY34 Lysite WY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KWRL, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
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.