20030901026139A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 172F · Fajardo, Puerto Rico · September 1, 2003

Date: September 1, 2003 · 12:10 local
Place: Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Airport: Diego Jimenez Torres Airport
Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N8578U
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA03LA176
Reported as: Cessna 172F
Reported engine: Lycoming O360A3A
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 24,642 total2 in this make and model2 in the last 90 days

N8578URegistration cancelled May 14, 2013 · Cessna 172FS/N 17252478 · Built 1965 Airframe modelCessna 172F Engine modelContinental 0-300 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On September 1, 2003, at approximately 1130(LCL), a Cessna model 172-F N8578U crashed on a field near the Fajardo airport ten minutes after take-off. According to the pilot, the engine quit while climbing through an altitude of 300'. The pilot maneuvered the aircraft by turning 180 degrees trying to reach the strip, but due to the low altitude at the moment of failure, was forced to land on a farm nearby. The aircraft was destroyed after landing due to terrain's topography.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2003, AT APPROXIMATELY 1130(LCL), A CESSNA MODEL 172-F N8578U CRASHED ON A FIELD NEAR THE FAJARDO AIRPORT TEN MINUTES AFTER TAKE-OFF. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE ENGINE QUIT WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH AN ALTITUDE OF 300'. THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT BY TURNING 180 DEGREES TRYING TO REACH THE STRIP, BUT DUE TO THE LOW ALTITUDE AT THE MOMENT OF FAILURE, WAS FORCED TO LAND ON A FARM NEARBY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AFTER LANDING DUE TO TERRAIN'S TOPOGRAPHY.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA03LA176Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportFajardo, PRThe pilot's inadequate aircraft preflight resulting in the airplane being operated with water contamination in the fuel system, and the loss of engine power.Sep 1, 2003 · Destroyed