Cessna 182A accident near Spokane Valley, Washington, June 24, 2024
On June 24, 2024 at about 2:42 am local time, a 1957 Cessna 182A, registered N4059D, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Spokane Valley, Washington (Felts Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2024 · about 2:42 am local time
- Place
- Spokane Valley, Washington · Felts Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A, built 1957 · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N4059D · no longer on the register · serial 34759
- 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 planned a three-hour round trip cross-country flight. After landing at the destination, he conducted a walkaround inspection of the airplane before departing on the return flight but did not visually confirm the airplane’s fuel quantity. While enroute, he noted that the fuel quantity indications were low, and about 5 miles from the destination airport, the engine began to sputter, then lost total power. The pilot conducted a forced landing, during which the airplane landed hard and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane and accident site revealed no fuel in either fuel tank. Both fuel tanks were intact, and there were no signs of fuel leakage on the ground surrounding the airplane. According to the pilot, there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. The pilot later indicated that the airplane ran out of fuel due to high gross weight, high temperatures, and stronger than expected headwinds, and that his actual fuel consumption rate was about 3 gallons per hour more than he had calculated before the flight.
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
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 699 hours in all; 236 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 3, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 -L (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Coeur LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 1U1 Moose Creek Ranger Station ID at 1:30 am
- Destination: SFF Spokane WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 11 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KSFF, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSFF 240253Z 25011G26KT 10SM CLR 24/01 A2985 RMK AO2 PK WND 25026/0251 SLP093 T02390011 53003=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on June 10, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Om Fuel and Performance Excerpts | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Airplane Recovery | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Email, Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.