Cessna 180G accident near Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania, June 9, 1992
On June 9, 1992 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Cessna 180G, registered N4731U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania (Dubois-Jefferson Cty. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING IN TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1992 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania · Dubois-Jefferson Cty. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180G · all 180Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4731U · no longer on the register · serial 18051431
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ELECTED NOT TO REFUEL AT THE AIRPORT WHERE HE HAD CLEARED CUSTOMS. HE FLEW AN ADDITIONAL 110 NAUTICAL MILES TO ANOTHER AIRPORT FOR REFUELING. THE ENGINE QUIT AS THE AIRPLANE TURNED ONTO FINAL APPROACH, AND THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN TREES. APPROXIMATELY 5 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE FUEL TANKS. THE PILOT HANDBOOK STATES THAT 5 GALLONS OF FUEL IS UNUSABLE. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS PLACED IN A TEST CELL, IT STARTED EASILY AND RAN TO FULL POWER WITH NORMAL INDICATIONS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,791 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 22, 1992; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BUF Buffalo NY at 1:00 pm
- Destination: DUJ Dubois PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 5,504 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.