Cessna 180 accident near Omaha, Nebraska, December 2, 2010
On December 2, 2010 at about 10:30 am local time, a Cessna 180, registered N3246D, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Omaha, Nebraska (Eppley Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to a stuck check valve in the carburetor acceleration pump, resulting in an improper fuel mixture when the pilot attempted to add power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 2010 · about 10:30 am local time
- Place
- Omaha, Nebraska · Eppley Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N3246D · registry record · serial 32044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing approach and 1/2-mile from the runway, the engine lost power. During the ensuing forced landing, the airplane impacted a tree and terrain. During postaccident functional testing of the engine, it lost power when the throttle was moved quickly from a low power setting to a high power setting, and became more pronounced as the engine got warmer. The carburetor was removed from the engine and a visual inspection was conducted. A roughness was felt in the accelerator pump while manually moving the control at the carburetor, and very little fuel flow came from the accelerator pump. The carburetor was disassembled and all check valves, ports and vents, the venturi, nozzle bleed holes, carburetor bowl vent channels, and float assembly were cleaned. After reassembly, a much higher fuel output was achieved. The carburetor and accelerator pump were reinstalled on the engine, and all functional checks were normal.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PHP Philip SD at 8:30 am
- Destination: OMA Omaha NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14L, 7,020 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.