Cessna 180D accident near Nyssa, Oregon, April 15, 1995
On April 15, 1995, a Cessna 180D, registered N180WH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nyssa, Oregon. 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
FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL EN ROUTE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1995
- Place
- Nyssa, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180D · all 180Ds on the register
- Registration
- N180WH · registry record · serial 18050972
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD REFUELED THE AIRCRAFT FOR A TOTAL OF 60 GALS BEFORE DEPARTURE. WITHIN 20 MI OF HIS DESTINATION THE ENGINE QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A HIGHWAY, AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A POLE. ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL REMAINED IN THE TANKS. THE AIRCRAFT SHOULD HAVE CONSUMED APPROXIMATELY 52 GALS OF FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT. TOTAL FUEL CAPACITY FOR THE AIRCRAFT IS 65 GALS, OF WHICH 55 ARE USABLE IN ALL FLIGHT CONDITIONS, AND 62 ARE USABLE FOR LEVEL FLIGHT ONLY. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT HE MADE SOME DIVERSIONS DURING THE FLIGHT FOR WEATHER.
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
- Flight time: 541 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,815 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1994; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: STS Santa Rosa CA at 8:50 pm
- Destination: ONO Ontario OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N180WH 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.