# NTSB LAX95LA224: Cessna 180, N2362C, Chandler, AZ, June 26, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 1995, 20:10 local (Jun 26, 1995, 03:10 UTC) - Place: Chandler, AZ - Coordinates: 33.209579, -111.869918 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2096&lon=-111.8699&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29128 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29128/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA224 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion resulting from the pilot's failure to determine the amount of fuel onboard at departure. The reduced ambient lighting was a factor in this accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel supply - not verified, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - wire,transmission - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis WHILE FLYING AT 8,500 FEET, THE PILOT NOTICED THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE WAS READING LOWER THAN NORMAL. HE BEGAN AN APPROACH TOWARD HIS DESTINATION WHEN HE NOTICED THE RIGHT FUEL GAUGE BEGIN TO DROP OFF SUDDENLY WITH THE LEFT GAUGE APPEARING ALMOST EMPTY. THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT COLLIDED WITH SOME UTILITY LINES WHILE ATTEMPTING A FORCED LANDING. APPROXIMATELY 2 CUPS OF FUEL WERE DRAINED FROM EACH TANK. AN EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY ANOMALIES IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT USE A CALIBRATED DIPSTICK TO VERIFY THE QUANTITY IN THE AIRCRAFT TANKS, BUT HE VISUALLY VERIFIED APPROXIMATELY 30 GALLONS OF FUEL ONBOARD PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. FUEL RECORDS INDICATED THE PILOT WAS NOT IN THE HABIT OF TOPPING OFF THE FUEL TANKS. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 1995, at 2010 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 180, N2362C, made a forced landing 12 miles southeast of Chandler, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the pilot received minor injuries. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was on a solo cross-country flight when the accident occurred. The flight originated from Falcon Field Airport, Mesa, Arizona, at 1847 on the day of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed for the return leg. The pilot reported that he was flying at 8,500 feet west of Coolidge, Arizona, when he noticed that the left fuel gauge was lower than normal. He began an approach toward his destination and had reached a position near the east side of the San Tan mountains at 5,000 feet, when he noticed the right fuel gauge begin to drop off suddenly and the left gauge appearing almost empty. The pilot contacted Williams Gateway Airport and reported that he was low on fuel. About that time, the engine began to lose power. The pilot declared an emergency, but was unable to reach the airport. The engine quit 4 miles from the airport, and the aircraft collided with some utility lines while attempting a forced landing on a hard-surfaced two-lane road. According to sun and moon information, the end of civil twilight was 2012 on the day of the accident. The moon was 24.4 degrees below the horizon. During recovery, retrieval personnel reported that they drained approximately 2 cups of brownish-colored fuel from each main tank. The pilot said he did not use a calibrated dipstick to verify the quantity in the aircraft tanks. The pilot stated that he had visually verified approximately 30 gallons of fuel onboard prior to departure from Falcon Field. Based on his fuel consumption estimate of 11 gph and his estimate of fuel onboard at departure, he believed that he had sufficient fuel for a 2.7-hour flight. The pilot attributed the accident to excessive fuel consumption for unknown reasons. A review of fuel receipts revealed that the pilot was not in the habit of topping off his fuel tanks, but rather added fuel based on a combination of his estimated fuel consumption rate and flight time. A postaccident examination by FAA airworthiness inspectors failed to disclose any anomalies in the fuel system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2362C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2362C-1995-12-20), registration cancelled 1995-12-20, S/N 30662 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30662 - Airframe hours: 4541 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-K 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arthur W. Utay - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 25, 1994, 69 hours before - Departed: TUS, TUCSON, AZ - Destination: FFZ, MESA, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 779 total, 222 in this make and model, 681 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 290° at 6 knots - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FFZ, 15 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 19950625020499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950625020499A), Jun 25, 1995: Cessna 180, Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. Noted low fuel diverted for P32. Engine quit. Hit power poles landing. Fuel tanks were empty. Misjudged fuel burn. ## Other investigations on N2362C (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 LAX92LA269](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA269), Jun 30, 1992: Cessna 180 (N2362C), Glendale, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN GEAR INNER TUBE DUE TO DRY ROT, AND, THE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND PREFLIGHT INSPECTIONS CONDUCTED ON THE AIRCRAFT. 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.