The pilot reported that his mechanic had just completed an annual inspection on the Cessna 180 and he was flying it home.
While en route at 1,000 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a total loss of power. During the forced landing to a road near Kahlotus, Washington, the airplane stalled about 40 feet above ground level and hit the ground hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the upper fuselage.
The pilot sustained serious injuries in the crash.
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 post-accident examination of the airplane by an FAA 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 pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and attributed the power loss to fuel starvation.
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.
Aircraft Information:
- 1955 Cessna 180, N24227
- Last inspection: Annual inspection on Nov. 14, 2022
- Time since last inspection: Less than 24 hours
- Aircraft total time: 377 hours
- Engine manufacturer and model/series: Continental Motors O-470 series
- Rated horsepower: 230 hp
- Aircraft damage: Substantial
Pilot Information:
- Age: 70
- Certificates: Private Pilot Certificate
- Ratings: Single-engine land
- Experience: 541 total flight hours, 378 hours in this make and model
- Injuries: Serious
Accident Details
- Location: Kahlotus, Washington
- Accident Date and Time: November 15, 2022, 13:53 Local
- Weather at time of accident: Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC), Daytime:
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This November 2022 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Do not complain about higher insurance rates after the accident unless you have an idea on how to lower them going forward. Complaining for the sake of complaining helps nobody.
I have added, twice to my check list, “check fuel selection and tank gauge agree.
I run into this type of problem with my car. I always have the lights on auto. The dealer turns them to off. So then I leave the dealership with no daylight running lights. Don’t realize it until I pull into my garage where the headlights normally come on. However quite a bit more serious with airplanes.
average 5.6 annual hours of use since new …..???
Let’s see, 1000′ agl less the 40′ fall from the stall. 960′ to do a little bit of trouble shooting. He would have been better off just trimming for best glide, slide his seat all the way back and enjoy the ride.
Wow, what a shame destroyed a nice airplane!
And our insurance rates go up and a nice airplane wrecked.
in the pre-takeoff check list…’fuel selector on Both’… in flight select tanks as seeded.
More stupid pilot tricks…and a severely damaged aircraft.!