# NTSB NYC98LA142: Cessna 180, N180DR, Wadsworth, OH, July 10, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 10, 1998, 19:12 local (23:12 UTC) - Place: Wadsworth, OH - Coordinates: 41.019271, -81.730766 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0193&lon=-81.7308&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43207 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43207/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA142 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency ## Analysis While in the traffic pattern, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot stated he was unable to restart the engine and because the airplane was too low to allow for a runway landing, he performed a forced landing to a grass field. After the accident, during interviews the pilot stated the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. He further said, the right fuel tank contained 15 gallons of fuel, but he 'forgot to switch tanks.' Approximately 20 gallons of fuel (10 gallons per wing tank) were drained from the airplane about 6 hours after the accident. Examination of the wreckage did not disclose any pre-impact malfunctions of the airframe or engine. ## Factual narrative On July 10, 1998, about 1912 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 180, N180DR, was substantially damaged during a forced landing while on approach to the Wadsworth Municipal Airport (3G3), Wadsworth, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated from Augusta (DNL), Georgia, at 1540. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, after an uneventful flight from DNL, he entered the traffic pattern at 3G3 for landing on runway 02. While on the downwind leg, about 800 feet above ground level, the airplane's engine suddenly lost power. The pilot said he followed the "engine out" procedures, which included switching the fuel selector position from the right tank to "both;" however, he was unable to restart the engine. The pilot further stated that the airplane was too low to allow for a runway landing and he elected to perform a forced landing to a grass field. The airplane came to rest about 300 feet south of the approach end of the runway. After the accident, during interviews with a Federal Aviation Administration (FFA) Inspector and a Ohio State Highway Patrol Officer, the pilot stated the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. He further said, the right fuel tank contained 15 gallons of fuel, but he "forgot to switch tanks." Examination of the wreckage by an FAA Inspector did not disclose any pre-impact malfunctions of the airframe or engine. When the carburetor drain plug was removed, approximately 1 cup of fuel was drained, which included about 1 teaspoon of water. Twenty gallons of fuel, an equal amount from each tank was drained from the airplane about 6 hours after the accident, after maintenance personnel noticed that fuel continued to leak from the gascolater, after the fuel selector had been placed in the "OFF" position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N180DR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N180DR), registered now, S/N 18051762 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18051762 - Engines: Continental O-470R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dane H. Jorgensen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1997, 148 hours before - Departed: DNL, AUGUSTA, GA - Destination: 3G3 - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 3G3, Wadsworth Muni, runway 2, 3,536 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,600 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CAK, 17 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 19980710046629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980710046629A), Jul 10, 1998: Cessna 180, Wadsworth, OH, No damage. (-23) Pilot of N180DR, Cessna 180, called this inspector 30 minutes after accident. The pilot said that several miles east of 3G3 airport engine quit, he said… 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.