# NTSB CHI94LA232: Cessna 180, N333QB, Battle Lake, MN, July 15, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 15, 1994, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Battle Lake, MN
- Coordinates: 46.280078, -95.710586 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2801&lon=-95.7106&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9596
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA232
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9596/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA232

## Probable cause

loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion which resulted from inaccurate fuel consumption calculations.  A factor related to the accident was the inaccurately placarded fuel tanks.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,placard/label/marking(s) - incorrect (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS WITHIN THREE MILES OF HIS INTENDED DESTINATION WHEN THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.  THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS NO USABLE FUEL IN EITHER TANK.  THE PILOT HAD BASED HIS FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS ON THE 32.5 GALLON CAPACITY PLACARDED ON EITHER TANK.  THE TANKS WERE ACTUALLY 30.0 GALLON TANKS WITH 27.5 GALLON USABLE CAPACITY.

## Factual narrative

On July 15, 1994, about 1130 central daylight time, a Cessna 180, N333QB, sustained substantial damage in a forced landing near Battle Lake, Minnesota.  The pilot reported a total loss of engine power. There were no injuries to the commercial pilot or the two passengers aboard the airplane.  The  personal flight originated at Forest Lake, Minnesota, at 1015, with an intended destination of Battle Lake.  No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

The mechanic who examined the airplane stated he drained about 1.5 to 2 gallons of fuel from the left wing, and no fuel from the right wing.  Each fuel tank has 2.5 gallons of unusable fuel.  Both fuel tanks were placarded 32.5 gallon capacity, but were actually 30 gallon tanks.  The pilot stated he made his fuel calculations based on the 32.5 gallon capacity placarded on each tank.

The engine started and ran normally when fuel was supplied.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N333QB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N333QB), registered now, S/N 31398, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180
- 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: 31398
- Airframe hours: 4556
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-J 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Thomas A. Mottinger
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1993, 18 hours before
- Departed: 25D, FOREST LAKE, IL
- Destination: 7Y5, MN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,525 total, 77 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FFM, 25 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 19940715018609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940715018609A), Jul 15, 1994: Cessna 180, Battle Lake, MN, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel en route.

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.

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