What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On September 3, 2003, approximately 1340 EST, a Cessna 172P, N52615, operated as a public aircraft by the Santa Rosa county sheriff's department, impacted with trees in jay, Florida. The airplane departed Milton prince airport, Florida approximately 0950L. The pilot proceeded with heading 310 for an airstrip J22 (jay FL) to pick up a law enforcement officer. Departed J22 at approximately 1230L heading north 012 to 020 degrees. The pilot made a left bank turn at 500-600 MSL, with flaps at 10 to 20 degrees input when the airplane buffeted a little before leveling, he position power level to full power while cruising at 55 to 58 knots and approximately 200O RPM, and the airplane engine did not respond. The airplane impacted approximately 40 ft. into high trees and the energy path through the trees was approximately 240 degrees. The aircraft came to rest in a nose down attitude on a southerly heading at 218 ft. MSL. Facts: 1). Pilot stated that the right fuel quantity gage had been inoperative some time. 2). Both wings were intact and all fitting were attached with good continuity through tubing. 3). Drained 1.5 gallon of fuel in left tank and zero quantity from right. 4). Enginecontinuity checked okay.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2003, APPROXIMATELY 1340 EST, A CESSNA 172P, N52615, OPERATED AS A PUBLIC AIRCRAFT BY THE SANTA ROSA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, IMPACTED WITH TREES IN JAY, FLORIDA. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED MILTON PRINCE AIRPORT, FLORIDA APPROXIMATELY 0950L. THE PILOT PROCEEDED WITH HEADING 310 FOR AN AIRSTRIP J22 (JAY FL) TO PICK UP A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. DEPARTED J22 AT APPROXIMATELY 1230L HEADING NORTH 012 TO 020 DEGREES. THE PILOT MADE A LEFT BANK TURN AT 500-600 MSL, WITH FLAPS AT 10 TO 20 DEGREES INPUT WHEN THE AIRPLANE BUFFETED A LITTLE BEFORE LEVELING, HE POSITION POWER LEVEL TO FULL POWER WHILE CRUISING AT 55 TO 58 KNOTS AND APPROXIMATELY 200O RPM, AND THE AIRPLANE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED APPROXIMATELY 40 FT. INTO HIGH TREES AND THE ENERGY PATH THROUGH THE TREES WAS APPROXIMATELY 240 DEGREES. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING AT 218 FT. MSL. FACTS: 1). PILOT STATED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL QUANTITY GAGE HAD BEEN INOPERATIVE SOME TIME. 2). BOTH WINGS WERE INTACT AND ALL FITTING WERE ATTACHED WITH GOOD CONTINUITY THROUGH TUBING. 3). DRAINED 1.5 GALLON OF FUEL IN LEFT TANK AND ZERO QUANTITY FROM RIGHT. 4). ENGINECONTINUITY CHECKED OKAY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.