Cessna 180J GNQK

Summary

On 19 May 2004 at about 19:30 local time, a Cessna 180J registered GNQK was involved in an accident near South St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 May 2004 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

South St. Paul, Minnesota, United States

Nearest airport

Fleming Field (SGS)

Coordinates

44.8617, -93.0328

Aircraft

Cessna 180J

Registration

GNQK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

South St. Paul → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI04CA122

Nobody was injured.

The total loss of engine power during takeoff climb due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's failure to follow the aircraft's checklist and leaving the fuel selector in the OFF positon.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a loss of engine power on takeoff. The private pilot reported that a new 300 horsepower Continental IO-550-D37 engine had been installed on the airplane and a maintenance flight was required to "break in" the new engine. As part of the engine conversion, a small header tank that held about 1.5 gallons of fuel was installed on the airplane. He reported that the fuel selector was left in the "OFF" position prior to takeoff, and he forgot to put the fuel selector in the "BOTH" position. He reported that the airplane climbed to 500 feet above ground level, and then the engine lost power. He turned back to the airport and the airplane impacted the terrain on the airport property during the forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.