# Accident 19970405004879A: Cessna 170B, Furnace Creek, CA, April 5, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 5, 1997, 14:31 local time
- Place: Furnace Creek, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.5998° N, 116.8293° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5998&lon=-116.8293&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2294D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2294D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 170B (registry code 2072306, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C145 series (registry code 17012, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Reported engine: LYC O360A1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,324 total, 1,689 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA146) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970405004879A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT ENGINE QUIT ON TAKEOFF AT A LOW ALTITUDE. (.4)THE PILOT DEPARTED WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR SET TO THE 'BOTH' TANKS POSITION.  HOWEVER, DURING THE FLIGHT FUEL APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN MOSTLY USED FROM THE RIGHT TANK.  TO EQUALIZE THE BURN OFF, HE REPOSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT TANK ONLY POSITION.  FUEL CONTINUED TO BE CONSUMED OUT OF THE RIGHT TANK, AND THE ENGINE QUIT WHEN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK GAUGE REGISTERED EMPTY AND THE LEFT TANK GAUGE REGISTERED 3/4 FULL.  THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD. THEREAFTER, THE PILOT EXAMINED HIS AIRPLANE AND NOTED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR HANDLE WAS 'REAL LOOSE.'  THE PILOT MANUALLY SIPHONED BETWEEN 12 AND 15 GALLONS OF FUEL OUT OF THE LEFT TANK, POURED IT INTO THE RIGHT TANK, AND TOOK OFF. SEVERAL SECONDS INTO THE INITIAL CLIMB, BETWEEN 100 AND 150 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST AGAIN. UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE ROAD, THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON ROUGH TERRAIN.  THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR ASSEMBLY WAS EXAMINED AND ITS CONTROL SHAFT WAS FOUND DISCONNECTED AT ITS ATTACHMENT TO THE FUEL VALVE ASSEMBLY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX97LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA146), Apr 5, 1997: Cessna 170B (N2294D), Furnace Creek, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Fuel starvation resulting from disconnection of the fuel selector valve. Factors which contributed to the accident were the pilot's intentional operation with known airplane deficiencies and the…

## Other reports on N2294D (1)

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

- [Accident 19930809030759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930809030759A), Aug 9, 1993: Cessna STC170 (N2294D), Lakeport, CA, Substantial damage. Ground looped landing in a crosswind. Blamed wind gust.

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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