# NTSB WPR25LA184: Cessna 180E, N2680Y, Rockford, WA, June 20, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 20, 2025, 09:10 UTC - Place: Rockford, WA - Coordinates: 47.47788, -117.15342 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4779&lon=-117.1534&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2025 - 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): 200371 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200371/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200371 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA184 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent landing on rough terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072612), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072612), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072612), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2072612), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Cessna 180E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=2072612), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072612), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 180E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072612), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that about 30 minutes from the destination airport the engine lost all power. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a rough field, during which the left main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks contained no usable fuel. The pilot stated that during his preflight inspection, he did not visually verify the fuel levels in the fuel tanks and relied on the fuel analyzer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2680Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2680Y), registered now, S/N 18051180, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180E - Registry model: [Cessna 180E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180e) (registry code 2072612) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18051180 - Year built: 1962 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: U88, Garden Valley, ID - Destination: DEW, Deer Park, WA - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 26, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10,000 total, 5,500 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.69 inHg - Observed at: KSFF, 14 nm away - METAR: KSFF 202253Z COR 22009G22KT 10SM SCT065 20/02 A2969 RMK AO2 SLP045 T02000022 ## 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 20250620007469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250620007469A), Jun 20, 2025: Cessna 180E, Rockford, WA, Substantial damage. On June 20, 2025, at 0925 accident occured near east baker road and hwy 27 in Rockford, WA. Pilot crashed in a field due to engine failure from fuel… ## Other investigations on N2680Y (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 FTW66F0546](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW66F0546), Feb 23, 1966: Cessna 180E (N2680Y), Westwego, LA, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 26, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200371. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19210005&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of e-mail correspondence (pilot) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19210780&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20e-mail%20correspondence%20(Pilot)-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� Idaho division of aeronautics (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 884 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19210424&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19037441&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.