N4981E

On October 12, 2003, at approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182R, N4981E, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing approximately 20 nautical miles north-northeast of Lysite, Wyoming. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from a private airstrip near Lost Cabin, Wyoming, at approximately 0700.

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 airplane's left and right wings were bent downward, the left wing strut was buckled, and the vertical stabilizer was crushed. The pilot said that he had flown the airplane several times for a total of approximately 6 hours since he last refueled.

According to the Cessna 182 Pilot Operating Handbook (POH), with a total of 88 gallons of useable fuel, and while operating between 65 and 75 percent power, the fuel endurance is approximately 7 hours.