# NTSB LAX94LA300: Cessna 180H, N180BK, Elko, NV, July 27, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 1994, 14:42 local (21:42 UTC) - Place: Elko, NV - Location: 40.8295° N, 115.7731° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from ELKO RGNL (EKO), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8295&lon=-115.7731&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28810 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA300 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28810/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA300 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power from fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's improper preflight and fuel consumption calculations while operating with known equipment malfunctions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency ## Analysis THE PILOT FAILED TO VISUALLY INSPECT THE FUEL LEVEL BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATED BETWEEN FULL AND EMPTY WITH THE RIGHT FUEL GAUGE INDICATING 1/4 FULL. THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND CAME TO REST ON A HIGHWAY 300 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. POST CRASH EXAMINATION FOUND LITTLE OR NO FUEL REMAINING IN THE INTACT FUEL SYSTEM. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 1994, at 1442 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180H, N180BK, collided with a tree during an emergency landing at J. C. Harris Field, Elko, Nevada. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules business flight to Elko. The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated at Currant Ranch Airport, Currant, Nevada, at 1345 hours. In his written statement, the pilot reported the airplane's engine lost power while turning onto final approach. During the emergency descent, the airplane struck a tree and came to rest on a highway 300 feet from the approach end of runway 23. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigator conducted the on-scene investigation. He reported that the retriever observed little or no fuel in the airplane's fuel tanks. During the retrieval process the retriever obtained a pint of fuel from the airplane's gascolator at the firewall. The retriever also said that the airplane's fuel system was not compromised during the impact sequence and there was no evidence of any fuel spillage. The pilot told the inspector that he did not visually check the airplane fuel level before departing Currant airport. The passenger said in a written statement that the fuel gauges were erratic during the accident flight. The left fuel gauge continuously fluctuated between empty and full with a 1/4 tank indication on the right gauge. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N180BK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N180BK), registered now, S/N 18052120, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180H - Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052120 - Airframe hours: 4615 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Furrh, Larry W. - Registered owner: Furrh, Larry W. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 19, 1994, 40 hours before - Departed: NU7, CURRANT, NV - Destination: EKO, NV - Airport: EKO, Elko, runway 23, 7,211 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 626 total, 359 in this make and model, 575 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F ## 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 19940727019529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940727019529A), Jul 27, 1994: Cessna 180H, Elko, NV, Substantial damage. Lost power turning final for landing. Struck tree short of runway. Fuel tanks were empty. ## Other investigations on N180BK (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 DEN86LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA118), Apr 20, 1986: Cessna 180G (N180BK), Roosevelt, UT, 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.