Cessna 180 accident near Denton, Texas, September 25, 1994
On September 25, 1994 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N9425C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denton, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FUEL STARVATION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF FUEL. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED WERE: THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING, AND THE PILOT'S EVASIVE MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 1994 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Denton, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N9425C · registry record · serial 180-31823
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING APPROACH TO HIS HOME AIRPORT, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE POWER LOSS AS HE APPLIED 20 DEG OF FLAPS. HE DETERMINED THAT HE COULD NOT MAKE THE RUNWAY AND ELECTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING TO A DIRT ROAD. ON SHORT FINAL, THE PILOT SPOTTED POWER LINES AND ENTERED A SHALLOW CLIMB TO CLEAR THEM; HOWEVER, THE RESULTANT LOSS OF AIRSPEED INDUCED A STALL AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BELIEVED A TANK UNPORTED WHEN HE LOWERED THE FLAPS. 5 GALS OF FUEL WERE DRAINED FROM EACH WING TANK DURING RECOVERY. THE FLIGHT MANUAL INDICATED 2.5 GALS PER SIDE 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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,127 hours in all; 285 in this make and model; 144 in the last 90 days; 77 in the last 30 days; 4,380 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,565 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1994; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 95TA Utopia TX at 7:00 pm
- Destination: 5TXO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.