N738XP

On July 14, 2000, about 2047 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna TR182, N738XP, collided with telephone wires and poles during a forced landing on a city street while on final approach to McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. The forced landing was precipitated by a total loss of engine power. The airplane was operated by Flatirons Aviation of Boulder, Colorado, and rented by the pilot for a cross-country flight. The airplane was substantially damaged during the collision sequence. The private pilot received serious injuries and two passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and an IFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Boulder about 1630.

According to the pilot's logbook, on July 10, the pilot flew the accident airplane for 1.8 hours for the start of a formal checkout with a flight instructor. According to refueling records, the accident airplane was topped off with fuel on July 13, at a Hobbs meter reading of 4,042.0 hours. On July 14, he completed his checkout with the instructor in the accident airplane within 42 minutes and 4 landings. According to the Hobbs meter reading at the accident site (4,046.6), the airplane had operated 4.6 hours since refueling. The Cessna Aircraft Company Information Manual's endurance profile states that the endurance will be 5.3 hours. The example profile flight is at 18,000 feet msl, 75 percent engine power at maximum takeoff weight, and proper leaning of the fuel/air mixture.

According to flight plan information, the pilot listed an en route flight time of 3 hours 15 minutes, with 5.0 hours fuel onboard. The pilot filed for an en route altitude of 20,000 feet msl. The loss of engine power occurred during approach to landing. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector on scene, the fuel tanks were empty. During postaccident examination of the airplane the engine was provided fuel and successfully run.

Neither the pilot nor the operator returned the Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, form 6120.1/2.