On March 30, 1994, a Cessna 180 (registration N4646B) was involved in an aviation accident near Austin, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS WERE THE WIRE STRIKE AND LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft lost engine power, the pilot switched fuel selectors and attempted restart. During forced landing, it struck a power line and impacted ground short of runway. Examination revealed unequal fuel distribution with substantial unusable fuel.
Background
An aircraft experienced a loss of engine power during flight. The pilot responded by switching the fuel selectors from the BOTH position to the LEFT TANK and attempted an engine restart.
Events
During the subsequent forced landing, the aircraft struck a power line. After the power line strike, the aircraft descended out of control and impacted the ground approximately 0.25 miles short of the runway threshold.
Examination
An examination of the aircraft after the accident revealed the fuel quantities in the tanks. The right tank contained 2.5 gallons of fuel, and the left tank contained 6.5 gallons of fuel. The investigation determined that 2.5 gallons in each tank is unusable fuel.