Cessna 180 N2362C

Summary

On 26 June 1995 at about 03:10 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N2362C was involved in an accident near Chandler, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 June 1995 at 03:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Chandler, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

33.2096, -111.8699

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N2362C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tucson → Mesa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

LAX95LA224

1 person had minor injuries.

Fuel exhaustion resulting from the pilot's failure to determine the amount of fuel onboard at departure. The reduced ambient lighting was a factor in this accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE FLYING AT 8,500 FEET, THE PILOT NOTICED THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE WAS READING LOWER THAN NORMAL. HE BEGAN AN APPROACH TOWARD HIS DESTINATION WHEN HE NOTICED THE RIGHT FUEL GAUGE BEGIN TO DROP OFF SUDDENLY WITH THE LEFT GAUGE APPEARING ALMOST EMPTY. THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT COLLIDED WITH SOME UTILITY LINES WHILE ATTEMPTING A FORCED LANDING. APPROXIMATELY 2 CUPS OF FUEL WERE DRAINED FROM EACH TANK. AN EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY ANOMALIES IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT USE A CALIBRATED DIPSTICK TO VERIFY THE QUANTITY IN THE AIRCRAFT TANKS, BUT HE VISUALLY VERIFIED APPROXIMATELY 30 GALLONS OF FUEL ONBOARD PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. FUEL RECORDS INDICATED THE PILOT WAS NOT IN THE HABIT OF TOPPING OFF THE FUEL TANKS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.