# NTSB CEN18LA317: Cessna 120, N76524, Pomona, MO, August 6, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 2018, 12:51 local (17:51 UTC) - Place: Pomona, MO - Coordinates: 36.878612, -91.904998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8786&lon=-91.9050&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 19, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA St Louis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98008 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA317 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98008/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98008 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA317 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 120, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 120, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that he departed the airport for the local flight with both wing fuel tanks full of fuel and the fuel selector on the left tank. After flying for about 1 hour, he landed at the airport and departed again. When the airplane was about 500 ft above ground level, the pilot intended to change the fuel selector to the right fuel tank. However, he inadvertently switched the fuel selector to the off position, and the engine lost power. The pilot immediately switched the fuel selector back to the left fuel tank and attempted to restart the engine without success. He executed a forced landing to a field, and, during the landing rollout, the airplane collided with a fence and hay bale, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot mismanaged the fuel during flight, which resulted in fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2018, about 1251 central daylight time, a Cessna 120, N76524, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Pomona, Missouri. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The airplane departed about 1145 from the West Plains Regional Airport (UNO), West Plains, Missouri, on a local flight. The pilot reported that he departed UNO with both wing fuel tanks full of fuel, and the fuel selector was on the left tank. After flying for about an hour, he landed at UNO and departed again. When the airplane was about 500 ft above ground level, the pilot intended to change the fuel selector to the right fuel tank. However, he inadvertently switched the fuel selector to the OFF position, and the engine stopped producing power. The pilot immediately switched the fuel selector back to the left fuel tank and attempted to restart the engine, but without success. He executed a forced landing to a field and during the landing rollout, the airplane collided with a fence and hay bale, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N76524](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76524-2019-12-20), registration cancelled 2019-12-20, S/N 10958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 120 - Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10958 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 4424.11 - Engines: Continental O-200-A4B 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 26, 2018 - Departed: UNO, West Plains, MO - Destination: UNO, West Plains, MO - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 84; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2018; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,576 total, 1,200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: UNO, 2 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 20180806010329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180806010329A), Aug 6, 2018: Cessna 120, Pomona, MO, Substantial damage. The accident occurred August 6, 2018, at approximately 10:00 local CDT near Pomona , Missouri, and the aircraft was carrying the pilot and one passenger at the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98008. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 302 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475592&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 3, .PDF, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475593&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo of Damaged Airplane (item 4, .PDF, 750 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475594&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Damaged%20Airplane-Master.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.