- Date
- September 5, 2018, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Richmond, VA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- C-GODACessna 180
- Defining event
- Approach: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 20, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- Case key
- 98248
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 improper preflight fuel planning and in-flight fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the total loss of engine power.
Findings · 3
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 reported that, on final approach, about 4 miles from the runway, the engine lost all power. He diverted to an open field, but during the approach, the airplane struck a power line and then impacted the field. The pilot further reported that, although he filled the fuel tanks before the flight, he misunderstood how long the airplane could fly with full fuel and thought that he had enough fuel to complete the flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, on the final approach, about 4 miles from the runway, the engine had a total power loss. He diverted to an open field but during the approach, the airplane struck a powerline and impacted the field. The pilot further reported that his fuel computer indicated that he should have landed with 30 minutes of fuel reserves and he thought he had enough fuel to complete the flight. He added that he should have diverted to refuel. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- C-GODA
- Reported as
- Cessna 180 (Undesignat)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31434
- Built
- 1955
- Airframe hours
- 2,999
- Engine
- Continental IO 470 J, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 4, 2018
- Departed
- CY00 · Oshawa
- Destination
- RIC · Richmond, VA
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- RIC · Richmond Intl, runway 20, 6,607 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 11, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 8,700 total · 185 in this make and model · 4,500 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.21 inHg
- Observed at
- KRIC, 2 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 MB in all.