Cessna 180K accident near Crystal Springs, Mississippi, April 25, 1990
On April 25, 1990 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Cessna 180K, registered N61714, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crystal Springs, Mississippi. It was a ferry 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
PILOTS FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT THE FUEL CAP WAS IN POSITION AND SECURED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THIS RESULTED IN FUEL SIPHONING OVERBOARD RESULTING IN THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 1990 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Crystal Springs, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180K · all 180Ks on the register
- Registration
- N61714 · no longer on the register · serial 18052791
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT 1 HR 5 MINUTES INTO THE FLT, THE PLT OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL SUPPLY WAS RAPIDLY DEPLETING. HE EXECUTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A GRAVEL PIT & AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON THE SHALLOW WATER, THE LT PONTOON SEPARATED. EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE RT WING FUEL CAP WAS NOT SECURED. FUEL STAINS AFT OF THE FUEL TANK WERE NOTED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,693 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 23, 1986; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Cont O-470U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Harvey LA at 12:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:57 pm from JAN, 25 miles away
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.