# NTSB WPR23LA042: Cessna 180, N24227, Kahlotus, WA, November 15, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 15, 2022, 13:53, time zone not recorded - Place: Kahlotus, WA - Coordinates: 46.72236, -118.58783 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7224&lon=-118.5878&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106349 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106349/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106349 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA042 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to check the fuel selector position before takeoff and his improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Also causal was the pilot’s loss of airplane control which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 65 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, his mechanic had just completed an annual inspection on the airplane, and he was flying it home. While en route at 1,000 ft above ground level, the engine experienced a total loss of power. During the forced landing to a road, the airplane stalled about 40 ft above ground level and impacted the ground hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the upper fuselage. After the accident, the pilot learned that the mechanic had moved the fuel selector from the BOTH position to the LEFT position. The pilot further reported that he did not check the fuel selector position before takeoff. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuel selector was in the LEFT tank position. The left fuel tank was nearly empty of fuel, and the right fuel tank was full. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and attributed the power loss to fuel starvation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24227](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N24227), registered now, S/N 31504, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31504 - Year built: 1955 - Airframe hours: 377 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dashiell Ross R - Registered owner: Dashiell Ross R - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 14, 2022 - Departed: S61, S61, ID - Destination: Eltopia, WA - Airport: S61, Hackney ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: unknown; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 22, 2022; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 541 total, 378 in this make and model, 541 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm ## 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 20221115017849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221115017849A), Nov 15, 2022: Cessna 180, Connelle, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot was flying at roughly 1000 feet AGL when the engine started to sputter and quit. The pilot started to put flaps down to slow his airspeed as he attempted… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106349. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15068868&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20PilotOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20Kahlotus_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15062523&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20EN%20with%20Pilot%20WPR23LA042-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record, telephone conversation, mechanic (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15062577&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20PB%20-%20Mechanic%20WRP23LA042-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15070265&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Email%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Aircraft photo (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 793 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15062766&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20-%2023LA042-Rel.pdf 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.