# NTSB ATL92LA095: Cessna 180B, N5127E, Jacksonville, NC, May 5, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 5, 1992, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Jacksonville, NC
- Coordinates: 34.760036, -77.400947 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7600&lon=-77.4009&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8598
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92LA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8598/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA095

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL FOR THE PLANNED FLIGHT; WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH VEGETATION IN THE FORCED LANDING FIELD.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING FLOWN TO ANOTHER FIELD, ABOUT 40 MILES AWAY, FOR REPAIRS TO THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK. HE SAID HE WAS BURNING THE FUEL FROM THAT TANK FOR THE REPAIRS TO BE DONE. EN ROUTE THE TANK RAN DRY & HE SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT TANK. HE ALSO STATED THAT IMPENDING WEATHER FORCED HIM TO ABORT THE FLIGHT, SO HE WAS RETURNING TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. WHILE ON A 2 MILE FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY, THE ENGINE QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD WITH TALL WHEAT & THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. 20 MINUTES ELAPSED BETWEEN THE PILOT'S STATED TAKE OFF & LANDING TIMES. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE RIGHT TANK. ALL OF THE FUEL WAS THEN DRAINED FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE FOLLOWING FUEL QUANTITIES WERE DRAINED: 1.5 GALLONS FROM THE RIGHT TANK, ONE QUART FROM THE LEFT TANK, TWO OUNCES FROM THE GASCOLATOR. FUEL WAS REPLACED IN THE AIRPLANE & THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY. UNUSABLE FUEL SPECIFIED FOR THE AIRPLANE IS 10 GALLONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5127E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5127E), registered now, S/N 50427, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180B
- Registry model: [Cessna 180B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180b) (registry code 2072606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 50427
- Airframe hours: 2110
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-K 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Anderson, James L.
- Registered owner: Anderson, James L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 14, 1991, 34 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 649 total, 29 in this make and model, 604 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: NCA, 12 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920505013539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920505013539A), May 5, 1992: Cessna 180B, Jacksonville, NC, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel en route. Nosed over on forced landing.

## Other investigations on N5127E (2)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DIA67D0057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA67D0057), Mar 22, 1967: Cessna 180B (N5127E), Wilkesboro, NC, substantial damage
- [NTSB UNK64X1164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1164), Apr 4, 1964: Cessna 180 (N5127E), Boomer, NC, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.