# NTSB FTW94LA309: Cessna 180, N9425C, Denton, TX, September 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 25, 1994, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Denton, TX - Coordinates: 33.209903, -97.05989 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2099&lon=-97.0599&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 27, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19170 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA309 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19170/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA309 ## Probable cause THE FUEL STARVATION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF FUEL. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED WERE: THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING, AND THE PILOT'S EVASIVE MANEUVER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - evasive maneuver - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) ## Analysis DURING APPROACH TO HIS HOME AIRPORT, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE POWER LOSS AS HE APPLIED 20 DEG OF FLAPS. HE DETERMINED THAT HE COULD NOT MAKE THE RUNWAY AND ELECTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING TO A DIRT ROAD. ON SHORT FINAL, THE PILOT SPOTTED POWER LINES AND ENTERED A SHALLOW CLIMB TO CLEAR THEM; HOWEVER, THE RESULTANT LOSS OF AIRSPEED INDUCED A STALL AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BELIEVED A TANK UNPORTED WHEN HE LOWERED THE FLAPS. 5 GALS OF FUEL WERE DRAINED FROM EACH WING TANK DURING RECOVERY. THE FLIGHT MANUAL INDICATED 2.5 GALS PER SIDE IS UNUSABLE. ## Factual narrative On September 25, 1994, at 1620 central daylight time, a Cessna 180, N9425C, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Denton, Texas. The airplane, owned and operated by the airline transport rated pilot, was on a personal cross country flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot received minor injuries while the three passengers were not injured. According to the pilot, he experienced an complete engine power loss while on base for landing at his home airport after the cross country flight. He determined that he could not glide to the runway and set up for a forced landing to a dirt road located about 1/4 mile short of the runway. On short final, the pilot spotted power lines and executed a shallow climb to clear them. He said that the resultant loss of airspeed induced a stall and the airplane impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed that 5 gallons of fuel was present in each tank. The pilot reported that he thought a tank unported when he applied 20 degrees of flaps during the approach. The airplane flight manual indicated that 2.5 gallons of fuel per tank were unusable, except for level flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9425C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9425C), registered now, S/N 31823, 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: 180-31823 - Airframe hours: 2565 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-J 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Anderson, Alan J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 1994, 9 hours before - Departed: 95TA, UTOPIA, TX - Destination: 5TXO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 10,127 total, 285 in this make and model, 4,380 as pilot in command, 144 in the last 90 days, 77 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 18 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19940925030749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940925030749A), Sep 25, 1994: Cessna 180, Denton, TX, Substantial damage. Lost power approaching plane. Tried land on road. Pulled up to miss wires and stalled. Low fuel may have unported. ## Other investigations on N9425C (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW77FQG37](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW77FQG37), Jul 5, 1977: Cessna 180 (N9425C), Lubbock, TX, substantial damage 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.