# NTSB DEN02LA061: Cessna 180, N2443C, Tucumcari, NM, June 26, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 26, 2002, 11:27 local (17:27 UTC) - Place: Tucumcari, NM - Coordinates: 35.160209, -103.719787 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1602&lon=-103.7198&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55085 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55085/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55085 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA061 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to position the fuel selector to the proper tank resulting in fuel starvation and the subsequent loss of engine power. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's failure to use the checklist and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, descent - fuel tank selector position - incorrect, pilot in command (cause) - checklist - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot reported that during his cockpit preflight checks, he neglected to place the fuel selector switch on "both." The pilot said that after approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes, he began a descent for landing and "pulled the prop RPM back slightly." The pilot said, "The instant I reduced the RPM the engine began to surge ..." The pilot said he became fixated on the propeller governor as the problem. "When I returned to cruise RPM, it smoothed out for a moment and then began surging again and then stopped producing power." The pilot said he was about 5 miles from the airport. He stated that he immediately picked out a dirt road to land on. The pilot said, "Again, I failed to use the checklist." The pilot said that he was clear of all fences and obstacles when he touched the airplane down on the road, but during rollout the left wing struck a small tree, which caused the airplane to swerve and subsequently impact into a ditch. The pilot reported the fuel selector was positioned to the right tank. An examination of the airplane showed fuel in the left tank, and no fuel in the right tank. At the accident site, the fuel selector was observed in the "both" position. An examination of the engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On June 26, 2002, at 1127 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180, N2443C, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck a tree during a forced landing on a road, 5 miles east of the Tucumcari Municipal Airport (TCC), Tucumcari, New Mexico. The pilot reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight that was being conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The cross-country flight originated at Ozark, Arkansas, at 0915 central daylight time, and was en route to Tucumcari. The pilot reported that during his cockpit preflight checks, he neglected to place the fuel selector switch on "both." The pilot said that after approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes, he began a descent for landing at TCC, and "pulled the prop RPM back slightly." The pilot said, "The instant I reduced the RPM the engine began to surge ..." The pilot said he became fixated on the propeller governor as the problem. "When I returned to cruise RPM, it smoothed out for a moment and then began surging again and then stopped producing power." The pilot said he was about 5 miles from the airport. He stated that he immediately picked out a dirt road to land on. The pilot said, "Again, I failed to use the checklist." The pilot said that he was clear of all fences and obstacles when he touched the airplane down on the road, but during rollout the left wing struck a small tree, which caused the airplane to swerve and subsequently impact into a ditch. The pilot reported the fuel selector was positioned to the right tank. An examination of the airplane revealed the main landing gear were broken aft and crushed upward into the airplane's cabin. There was also damage to the propeller, engine cowling, forward fuselage, and to the airplane's left wing tip. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the airplane's fuel system showed fuel in the left tank. The right tank was empty. At the accident site, the fuel selector was observed in the "both" position. An examination of the engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: N2443C (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30743 - Airframe hours: 4008 - Engines: Continental IO550-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert C. Petersen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 16, 2002, 26 hours before - Departed: 7M5, Ozark, AR - Destination: TCC, Tucumcari, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 16, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,964 total, 950 in this make and model, 1,964 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: TCC, 5 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 20020626014869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020626014869A), Jun 26, 2002: Cessna 180G, Tucumcari, NM, Substantial damage. (.19) On June 26, 2002, at 1127 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180, N2443C, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck a tree… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 29, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55085. 346 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 346 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448236&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.