Cessna 180 accident near Chandler, Arizona, June 26, 1995
On June 26, 1995 at about 3:10 am local time, a Cessna 180, registered N2362C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chandler, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1995 · about 3:10 am local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N2362C · registry record · serial 30662
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 779 hours in all; 222 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 681 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,541 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 1994; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TUS Tucson AZ at 2:32 am
- Destination: FFZ Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:46 am from FFZ, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N2362C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.