Accident Overview
On July 23, 2021, at approximately 2045 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180K airplane (registration N8884) sustained substantial damage when it struck a tree and terrain near Ken Jernstedt Airfield (4S2) in Mt. Hood, Oregon. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Sequence of Events
About 45 minutes after takeoff, the engine lost all power without any coughing or sputtering, though the propeller continued to spin. The pilot attempted to restore power by cycling the propeller, setting the mixture to full rich, advancing the throttle to full power, and ensuring carburetor heat was off, but the engine did not recover. The pilot then turned north and used a personal electronic device (PED) with an aviation navigation application that included FAA-approved charts to navigate toward Ken Jernstedt Airfield (4S2).
Realizing he would not reach 4S2, the pilot used the PED to identify Hanel Field (0OR9) directly ahead. He proceeded north intending to land on runway 34. Upon arrival, he observed that the airport was abandoned, with a barn erected on the approach end of runway 36 and multiple vehicles parked on the runway. Deciding he had sufficient altitude to change directions, he aimed to land on runway 16. While maneuvering, he added 20° of flaps and turned to a left base leg. He detected a tailwind, felt an increased rate of descent, and heard the stall warning horn activate. The airplane then struck a tree and collided with terrain about 100 ft north of the runway, coming to rest in a field covered by shrubs and trees. The right wing (from tip to midspan) and right aileron separated.
Post-Accident Examination
The pilot reported starting the day with 42 gallons of fuel. During recovery the following day, approximately 10-15 gallons were removed from the right wing, and an estimated 5 to 10 gallons had leaked from the left wing, which still contained some fuel.
Examination of the airframe revealed the fuel hose routing from the gascolator through a fuel flow transducer to the carburetor, secured with clamps and showing no signs of kinks, collapse, or leaks. The fuel flow transducer and connecting hoses were installed as part of an engine data monitoring (EDM) system added on August 5, 2020. The airplane had accumulated about 41 hours over 42 flights since installation.
Further inspection of the airframe and engine found no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. The engine was test-run for 10 minutes at maximum speed using a supplemental fuel tank and the airplane’s own controls; it operated normally from idle to maximum speed.
EDM Data
The EDM system recorded data from the last 63 flights. The internal clock was set to UTC, so July 23 flights were recorded as July 24. Flight 72 (1816:28–1926:20 local time) was uneventful, with fuel used increasing from 21.5 to 33.9 gallons (12.4 gallons total).
Flight 73 (1935:35–2039:06 local time) was the accident flight. Data showed engine start and normal power until about 2033:42, when all parameters decreased sharply. At 2033:48, fuel flow fluctuated between 0.6 and 0.0, consistent with total power loss. Fuel used rose from 33.9 to 45.2 gallons (11.3 gallons total).
Probable Cause
No probable cause was determined by the investigation.