Cessna 182 accident near Warren, Ohio, July 15, 2001
On July 15, 2001 at about 9:12 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N2815R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warren, Ohio. It was an other work-use 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 failure to adequately manage the available fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2001 · about 9:12 pm local time
- Place
- Warren, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N2815R · registry record · serial 18258415
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was refueled, and then departed on an aerial photography flight. Within 10 minutes, the airplane had reached the target area. The pilot slowed the airplane to 60 knots, and selected the carburetor heat to "ON," but did not lean the mixture. The pilot then spent about 5 hours maneuvering and taking photographs. The pilot configured the airplane for "normal" cruise and proceeded towards his planned destination. About 1 hour later and while operating approximately 1,000 feet agl, the pilot experienced a sudden loss of engine power. While maneuvering for a field, the pilot moved the fuel selector from "LEFT" to "BOTH" to "LEFT," and then back to "BOTH," the engine did not regain power. He did not select the right tank. The airplane touched down, impacted some trees, and came to rest upright and level. Examination of the left and right fuel tanks by an FAA inspector revealed that the left tank was intact and empty. The right was also intact, and had approximately 1 inch of fuel in it. The left fuel gauge indicated 1/16 of a tank, and the right indicated empty.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,700 hours in all; 4,100 in this make and model; 76 in the last 30 days; 5,400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 6, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,606 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 2000; 329 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VTA Newark OH at 3:10 pm
- Destination: GKJ Meadville PA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from YNG, 8 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.