# NTSB ERA10CA472: Cessna 180, N180LE, Huron, NY, September 9, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 9, 2010, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Huron, NY - Coordinates: 43.241111, -76.923889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2411&lon=-76.9239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77249 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA472 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77249/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77249 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA472 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (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) - [Fuel system: fuel quantity indicator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: 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) - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); 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) - [Enroute-descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N180LE), registered now, S/N 31645, 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: 31645 - Airframe hours: 5745 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; 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 ## 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 20100909046149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100909046149A), Sep 9, 2010: Cessna 180, Wolcott, NY, Substantial damage. The aircraft was on a VFR flight plan from azo to roc with an intended fuel stop at sodus bay, new york. The aircraft engines stopped, due to the lack of fuel.… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 16, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77249. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 422 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337144&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record with FAA (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337128&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20with%20FAA-Master.PDF - Rochester Weather (item 3, .PDF, 8 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337150&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Rochester%20Weather-Master.PDF - New York State Police Report (item 4, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337152&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=New%20York%20State%20Police%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Maps or Charts of Accident Area, Wreckage Diagrams (Courtesy of the New York State Police) (item 5, .PDF, 436 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337146&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20or%20Charts%20of%20Accident%20Area,%20Wreckage%20Diagrams%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20New%20York%20State%20Police)-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Airplane At Rest (Courtesy of the New York State Police) (item 6, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337147&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane%20At%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20New%20York%20State%20Police)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Front of Airplane (Courtesy of the New York State Police) (item 7, .PDF, 940 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337148&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Front%20of%20Airplane%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20New%20York%20State%20Police)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Fuel Tank Quantity Indicator (Courtesy of the New York State Police) (item 8, .PDF, 937 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337151&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Fuel%20Tank%20Quantity%20Indicator%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20New%20York%20State%20Police)-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.