# Accident 19980902022229A: Cessna 172N, Detroit Lakes, MN, September 2, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 2, 1998, 10:50 local time
- Place: Detroit Lakes, MN
- Airport: Detroit Lakes Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.8100° N, 95.8392° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8100&lon=-95.8392&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6703E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6703E-2009-06-08) (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: 8,900 total, 400 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA331](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA331) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980902022229A

## Narrative

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

ACFT LANDED IN A FIELD UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES AND BENT THE NOSE GEAR. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1998, AT 1050 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 172N, N6703E, PILOTED BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE 14 CFR PART 91 CIVIL AIR PATROL PUBLIC USE AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT WAS NOT OPERATING ON A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED HUTCHINSON, MINNESOTA, EXACT TIME UNKNOWN. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO FUEL IN N6703E'S FUEL TANKS. THE NOSE GEAR WAS SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME AND THE BOTTOM OF THE FIREWALL WAS BENT AFT ABOUT 3-INCHES. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR HAD SEPARATED FROM ITS FUSELAGE MOUNT AND WAS BENT AFT ALONG THE AIRPLANE'S FUSELAGE.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     (-23)TEN MILES NORTH OF DETROIT LAKES AIRPORT (DTL) THE ENGINE QUIT AT 1200 FEET AGL. A/C LANDED IN ALFALFA FIELD. NOSE WHEEL DEPARTED A/C AND LEFT MAIN TWISTED BACK AND FOLDED UP. NOSE COWL IMPACTED GROUND AND PROP WAS BENT BACK. RIGHT SIDE OF FUSELAGE WAS WTINKLED JUST AFT OF REAR WINDOW. THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL DEPLETION CAUSED BY PILOT POOR FUEL MANAGEMENT. *A/C WAS BEING FLOWN BY THE CIVIL AIR PATROL.

## 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 CHI98LA331](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA331), Sep 2, 1998: Cessna 172N (N6703E), Detroit Lakes, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: An inadequate preflight inspection by the pilot which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power.

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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