# Incident 19960126003359I: Cessna 172N, Bluefield, WV, January 26, 1996

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 26, 1996, 17:19 local time
- Place: Bluefield, WV
- Airport: Mercer County
- Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.2959° N, 81.2075° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MERCER COUNTY (BLF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2959&lon=-81.2075&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4901G, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4901G-2013-07-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,700 total, 550 in this make and model, 160 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960126003359I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NARRATIVE: AIRCRAFT ENROUTE (I21) INDIANAPOLIS-BROOKSIDE TO (RDU) RALEIGH-DURHAM, NC, WHILE IFR @ 45000 MSL. INTERMEDIATE FUEL STOP PLANNED @ PULASKI, VA (PSK) PILOT NOTED UNUSUAL FUEL QUALITY DECREASE IN VICINITY OF BLUEFIELD, WV (BLF). ELECTED LANDING AT BLF. A/C CLEARED FOR ILS 23 @ BLF BY ZID MISSED APPROACH DECLARED DUE TO HIGH WINDS. WHILE REPOSITIONING FOR SECOND APPROACH ENGINE POWERLOSS EXPERIENCED, UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. FORCED LANDING ON STATE ROUTE 123, 1 NM NORTH OF BLF. NO INJURIES/DAMAGE. A/C INSPECTION REVEALED DEFECTIVE SEAL ON RIGHT WING FUELING PORT CAUSING SIPHONING DURING FLIGHT. A/C TOWED TO AIRPORT (BLF) FUEL CAP/SEAL REPLACED, NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES NOTED, A/C RETURN TO SERVICE & TEST FLOWN 1-27-96. DISCUSSED FUEL MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES WITH PIC. A/C DEPARTED I21 W/FULL FUEL (40 GAL). PILOT STATED HE ATTEMPTED MONITORING FUEL CONSUMPTION BY TIME & QUALITY INDICATION, HOWEVER MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE MADE QUANTITY GAGES UNRELIABLE. AT TIME OF INCIDENT ETE WAS 3:30 W/4:30 HR FUEL ON BOARD. FUEL SIPHONING CAUSED LOSS OF FUEL RESERVE, RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. MATTER CONSIDERED CLOSED.

## Other reports on N4901G (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19870121000909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870121000909A), Jan 21, 1987: Cessna 172N (N4901G), Fort Worth, TX, Substantial damage. The student lost control of the aircraft during a downwind landing. The nose gear strut was improperly serviced.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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