# NTSB LAX95LA170: Cessna 180, N4928A, Los Banos, CA, April 23, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 22, 1995, 17:58 local (Apr 23, 1995, 00:58 UTC) - Place: Los Banos, CA - Coordinates: 37.070152, -120.839157 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0702&lon=-120.8392&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29080 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29080/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA170 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation. ## 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 - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - wall/barricade ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER IN THE PATTERN, LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, AND COLLIDED WITH A WALL. THE AIRPLANE FUEL SYSTEM WAS NOT COMPROMISED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE FOUND. ABOUT 4 GALLONS OF 80/87 OCTANE AVIATION GASOLINE WAS DRAINED FROM THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK. THE FUSELAGE TANK AND THE RIGHT WING TANK WERE EMPTY. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE LINE FROM THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE CARBURETOR. THERE WAS A TRACE OF FUEL FOUND IN THE ENGINE PRIMER SYSTEM. THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR THE CESSNA 180 LISTS THE FUEL CAPACITY OF THE WING BLADDER TANKS AS 32.5 GALLONS, OF WHICH 27.5 GALLONS ARE USABLE. AN ADDITIONAL 3.5 GALLONS OF THE 5 GALLONS UNUSABLE CAN BE USED 'FOR LEVEL FLIGHT ONLY.' THE FUEL TANKS HAVE OUTLET PORTS IN THE REAR INBOARD CORNER ONLY. ## Factual narrative On April 22, 1995, at 1758 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180, N4928A, lost power and landed short of runway 30, colliding with a wall in Los Banos, California. The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was being operated by the pilot/owner as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The airplane was examined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on April 28, 1995, at the Los Banos Municipal Airport. The airplane was found in a left wing-low attitude, resting on its belly. The airplane fuel system was not compromised during the impact sequence and there was no evidence of leakage found. The fuel selector was in the "BOTH" position. About 4 gallons of 80/87 octane aviation gasoline was drained from the left wing fuel tank. The fuselage tank and the right wing tank were found empty. There was no fuel found in the fuel line from the fuel selector to the carburetor. There was a trace of fuel found in the engine primer system. The airplane main landing gear was sheared off after the loss of power as a result of collision with the top of a brick wall. The airplane came to rest on a lawn. The local fire department was dispatched to the accident scene and stayed with the airplane until after it was transported to the airport. The plane was hoisted by lifting eyes located on the top of the cabin roof. According to local fire department officials, there was no evidence of fuel leaking at the accident scene or during transport. One firemen indicated he did not smell any aroma of fuel at the accident site. The pilot operating handbook for the Cessna 180 lists the fuel capacity of the wing bladder tanks as 32.5 gallons, each of which 27.5 gallons are usable. Of the 5 gallons unusable in each tank, 3.5 gallons can be used "for level flight only." According to the illustrated parts manual for the Cessna 180, there is a single fuel outlet supplying fuel to the fuel selector valve. The outlet is located on the inboard end of the fuel bladder aft of the fuel gauge. The fuel gauge is located midpoint between the front and aft edges of the fuel bladder. ## Aircraft - Registration: N4928A (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32325 - Airframe hours: 3451 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-K1B 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Marvin H. Wollf - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 1994, 25 hours before - Departed: MIT, SHAFTER, CA - Destination: LSN - Airport: LSN, Los Banos Municipal, runway 32, 3,005 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 21,000 total, 950 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 5 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MOD, 34 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 19950422011389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950422011389A), Apr 22, 1995: Cessna 180, Los Banos, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power on final. Sheared off landing gear on brick wall short of runway. No useable fuel on board. 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.