- Date
- September 9, 2010, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Huron, NY
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N180LECessna 180
- Defining event
- Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 16, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20100909046149A
- Case key
- 77249
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane stated that he was on final approach for landing on a lake where he intended to refuel. About 400 feet above ground level, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot was unable to restart it and impacted a corn field approximately one-half mile from the lake. The pilot reported that he had flown for about 4 1/2 hours and that the right fuel tank gauge indicated approximately one-quarter remaining just prior to the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed the left wing's fuel tank was void of fuel, and approximately 1 gallon of fuel was extracted from the right wing fuel tank. The engine separated from the airframe during the impact and the firewall was substantially damaged. According to photos provided by first responders to the accident site, the right fuel tank indicator was between the "empty" indication and the 1/4 tank indication and the left tank indicated below "empty."
Factual narrative
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane stated that he was on final approach for landing on a lake where he intended to refuel. About 400 feet above ground level, the airplane's engine lost power and quit. The pilot was unable to restart it and impacted a corn field approximately one-half mile from the lake. The pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he had flown for about 4 1/2 hours, and that the right fuel tank gauge indicated approximately one-quarter remaining just prior to the accident. The FAA inspector that responded to the accident scene reported that the left wing's fuel tank was void of fuel, and approximately 1 gallon of fuel was extracted from the right wing fuel tank. The engine separated from the airframe during the impact and the firewall was substantially damaged. According to photos provided by the New York State Police, the right fuel tank indicator was between the "E" and the 1/4 tank mark and the left tank indicated below "E."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N180LE
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31645
- Airframe hours
- 5,745
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-520-F, 270 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 17, 2009
- Departed
- Paw Paw, MI
- Destination
- Huron, NY
- Flight plan
- VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,001 total · 2,001 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- ROC, 26 nm away
Docket · 8
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 16, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.