# NTSB CEN10CA297: Cessna 180, N154JD, Humble, TX, June 3, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 3, 2010, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Humble, TX - Coordinates: 29.989999, -95.271667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9900&lon=-95.2717&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 76212 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA297 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76212/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76212 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA297 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel management. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot said that he departed with approximately 55 gallons of fuel on board (about 3.5 hours total) and departed on a long cross country flight. Approximately three hours into the flight, while on an ILS approach into his destination airport in VFR conditions, the pilot said the engine suddenly stopped, but the propeller continued to windmill. He pumped the throttle, and finally pushed it pushed full forward, but there was still no thrust. He checked the engine guages and they were normal, but he did not look at the fuel guages. A witness heard the engine sputtering as it flew overhead. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and attempted to reach a field, but ended up colliding with the roof of a private residence. The airplane came to rest in the residence's backyard. The pilot reported not seeing any fuel leaks or streaks when he got out of the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed there was no fuel in either wing tank, and there was no staining of the grass or foliage surrounding the airplane. When the airplane wing's were removed for salvage, less than one-pint of fuel was drained from the fuel lines. ## Factual narrative The private pilot said he departed with approximately 55 gallons of fuel on board (about 3.5 hours total) and departed on a long cross country flight. Approximately three hours and 30 minutes into the flight, while on an ILS approach into his destination airport in VFR conditions, the pilot said the engine suddenly stopped but the propeller continued to windmill. He pumped the throttle, and finally pushed it full forward, but there was still no thrust. He checked the engine guages and they were normal, but he did not look at the fuel guages. A witness heard the engine sputtering as it flew overhead. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and attempted to reach a field, but ended up colliding with the roof of a private residence. The airplane came to rest in the residence's backyard. The pilot reported not seeing any fuel leaks or streaks when he got out of the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed there was no fuel in either wing tank, and there was no staining of the grass or foliage surrounding the airplane. When the airplane wing's were removed for salvage, less than one-pint of fuel was drained from the fuel lines. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N154JD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N154JD-2011-05-14), registration cancelled 2011-05-14, S/N 30942, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30942 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Eastland Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Eastland Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ODO, Odessa, TX - Destination: IAH, Houston, TX - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: None, None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 2,015 total, 106 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20100603036079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100603036079A), Jun 3, 2010: Cessna 180, Humble, TX, Substantial damage. The aircraft was on ILS approach into bush intercontinental (kiah) rwy 26R when the pilot communicated his intent to execute an emergency landing due to loss… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 2, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76212. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 403 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333992&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation-Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation-Recovery Company (item 3, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334040&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Recovery%20Company-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 4, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334069&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF 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.