# Accident 20020918025119A: Cessna 172G, Vail, AZ, September 18, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 18, 2002, 16:00 local time
- Place: Vail, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.0444° N, 110.7864° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0444&lon=-110.7864&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2982U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2982U-2018-01-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172G (registry code 2072420, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172G
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02LA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA290) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020918025119A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2002, ABOUT 1600 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172G, N2982U, EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. THE PILOT/OWNER MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A CLEARING ADJACENT TO THE PIMA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, ABOUT 4 MILES WEST OF VAIL, ARIZONA. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND HARD. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, AND THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM EL PASO, TEXAS, ABOUT 1330 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME. THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR THAT HE HAD PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE EARLIER IN THE DAY FROM A COMPANY LOCATED IN EL PASO. HE PLANNED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE NONSTOP TO HIS HOME NEAR CASA GRANDE, ARIZONA. EN ROUTE, HE EXPERIENCED STRONG HEADWINDS AND NOTED THAT THE FUEL SUPPLY WAS LOW. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE DIVERTED TO AVAILABLE AIRPORTS, BUT THOUGHT HE HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL TO FLY HOME DESPITE THE HEADWINDS. APPROACHING THE TUCSON AREA HE ADVISED THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL. WHEN ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST HE AIMED FOR A CLEARING NEAR A DRAG STRIP. ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH TO THE CLEARING HE OBSERVED POWER LINES AND DISSIPATED AIRSPEED TO AVOID THEM. THE AIRPLANE MISSED THE POWER LINES BUT STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND HARD. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED WITH THE AIRPLANE. (-23) SEPTEMBER 18, 2002 AT ABOUT 1600 MST A CESSNA 172G N2982U PILOTED BY JOSEPH A RIGGS JR. EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN THE DESERT ABOUT 4 MILES WEST OF VAIL ARIZONA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING FLOWN FROM EL PASO TEXAS TO THE OWNERS HOME NEAR CASA GRANDE ARIZONA. THE PILOT HAD JUST PURCHASED THE AIRCRAFT IN EL PASO. THE APPARENT CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT AS STATED BY THE PILOT WAS FUEL EXHAUSTION.

## 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 LAX02LA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA290), Sep 18, 2002: Cessna 172G (N2982U), Vail, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate fuel consumption calculations, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.

## Other reports on N2982U (1)

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

- [Accident 20170830014029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170830014029A), Aug 30, 2017: Cessna 172G (N2982U), Belle Fourche, SD, Substantial damage. On 8/30/2017 at 1100 a Cessna 172G owned/registered to Belle Fourche aero, LLC was involved in an accident during landing approach while performing…

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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