Cessna 180 accident near Austin, Texas, March 30, 1994
On March 30, 1994 at about 9:54 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N4646B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Austin, Texas (Robert Mueller airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS WERE THE WIRE STRIKE AND LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 1994 · about 9:54 pm local time
- Place
- Austin, Texas · Robert Mueller
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N4646B · registry record · serial 31544
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER THE PILOT SWITCHED FUEL SELECTORS FROM THE BOTH POSITION TO THE LEFT TANK AND ATTEMPTED AN ENGINE RESTART. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A POWER LINE AND DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL TO GROUND IMPACTED .25 MILES SHORT OF THE THRESHOLD. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED 2.5 GALLONS OF FUEL AND THE LEFT TANK 6.5 GALLONS OF FUEL. TWO AND ONE HALF GALLONS IN EACH TANK IS UNUSABLE.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 420 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 470J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TCC Tucumcari NM at 6:25 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 35, 5,006 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from AUS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.