Cessna 180 C-GODA

Summary

On 5 September 2018 at about 17:00 local time, a Cessna 180 registered C-GODA was involved in an accident near Richmond, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 September 2018 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Richmond, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Richmond Intl (RIC)

Coordinates

37.5392, -77.3258

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

C-GODA

Category

Airplane

Year built

1955

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oshawa → Richmond

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA537

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper preflight fuel planning and in-flight fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, on final approach, about 4 miles from the runway, the engine lost all power. He diverted to an open field, but during the approach, the airplane struck a power line and then impacted the field. The pilot further reported that, although he filled the fuel tanks before the flight, he misunderstood how long the airplane could fly with full fuel and thought that he had enough fuel to complete the flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.