Summary
On July 27, 1994, a Cessna 180H (N180BK) was involved in an accident near Elko, NV. The accident resulted in 2 minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: A loss of engine power from fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's improper preflight and fuel consumption calculations while operating with known equipment malfunctions.
On July 27, 1994, at 1442 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180H, N180BK, collided with a tree during an emergency landing at J. C. Harris Field, Elko, Nevada. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules business flight to Elko. The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated at Currant Ranch Airport, Currant, Nevada, at 1345 hours.
In his written statement, the pilot reported the airplane's engine lost power while turning onto final approach. During the emergency descent, the airplane struck a tree and came to rest on a highway 300 feet from the approach end of runway 23.
This accident is documented in NTSB report LAX94LA300. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N180BK.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
a loss of engine power from fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's improper preflight and fuel consumption calculations while operating with known equipment malfunctions.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On July 27, 1994, at 1442 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180H, N180BK, collided with a tree during an emergency landing at J. C. Harris Field, Elko, Nevada. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules business flight to Elko. The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated at Currant Ranch Airport, Currant, Nevada, at 1345 hours.
In his written statement, the pilot reported the airplane's engine lost power while turning onto final approach. During the emergency descent, the airplane struck a tree and came to rest on a highway 300 feet from the approach end of runway 23.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigator conducted the on-scene investigation. He reported that the retriever observed little or no fuel in the airplane's fuel tanks. During the retrieval process the retriever obtained a pint of fuel from the airplane's gascolator at the firewall. The retriever also said that the airplane's fuel system was not compromised during the impact sequence and there was no evidence of any fuel spillage.
The pilot told the inspector that he did not visually check the airplane fuel level before departing Currant airport.
The passenger said in a written statement that the fuel gauges were erratic during the accident flight. The left fuel gauge continuously fluctuated between empty and full with a 1/4 tank indication on the right gauge.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX94LA300