# Accident 20020412013509A: Cessna 172F, Smithfield, NC, April 12, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 12, 2002, 23:40 local time
- Place: Smithfield, NC
- Airport: Johnston County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.5411° N, 78.3903° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5411&lon=-78.3903&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8458U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8458U-2017-10-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172F (registry code 2072414, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F
- Reported engine: CONT O300*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,648 total, 620 in this make and model, 147 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL02LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA081) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020412013509A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON APRIL 12, 2002, AT 2340 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 172, N8458U, REGISTERED TO AIR TAXI INC., AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT, COLLIDED WITH TREE AND POWER LINES WHILE MANEUVERING FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING NEAR SMITHFIELD, NORTH CAROLINA. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED. VISUAL WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND ONE PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES; ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED SMITHFIELD, NORTH CAROLINA, AT AN UNDETERMINED TIME. CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE FLIGHT AND ACCIDENT ARE NOT KNOWN. HOWEVER, EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE ACCIDENT SITE FAILED TO REVEAL THE PRESENT OF FUEL. THE PILOT REPORTED THE LOST OF ENGINE POWER PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. (-23) INVESTIGATION OF THE CRASH SCENE REVEALED AIRCRAFT HAD STRUCK LOWER OF TWO POWER LINES DURING AN ATTEMPTED EMERGENCY LANDING AT NIGHT INTO AN OPEN FIELD. THE POWER LINE CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO ROLL 180 DEGREES AND IMPACT THE GROUND INVERTED, COMING TO REST IN THIS POSITION. AIRCRAFT WAS INTACT                                           WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW PIECES OF THE LEFT WING TIP SHEARED OFF BY THE POWER LINE. FUEL TANKS AND FUEL LINES DID NOT CONTAIN ANY NOTICEABLE QUANTITY OF FUEL. NO FUEL WAS SPILLED ONTO THE GROUND FROM EITHER TANK. PILOT STATED HE THOUGHT HE HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL. PILOT ALSO STATED THAT ENGINE FAILED WITHIN SEVERAL MILES OF AIRPORT AT THE COMPLETION OF A 3.7 HOUR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT HE EMPLOYED EMERGENCY CHECKLIST ITEMS BUT ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART. SERIOUS INJURY TO ONE OCCUPANT, MINOR INJURIES TO OTHER TWO. (.4) THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND POWER LINES WHILE MANEUVERING FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. WHEN THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS ATTEMPTED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE, IT SPIRALED TO THE GROUND AND LANDED INVERTED.

## 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 ATL02LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA081), Apr 13, 2002: Cessna 172 (N8458U), Smithfield, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning that resulted in fuel exhaustion and the 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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