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20040905021059A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Cessna 172E · Port Angeles, WA · September 5, 2004

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
September 5, 2004 · 16:25 local
Place
Port Angeles, WA
Phase of flight
Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N5788T
NTSB investigation
NTSBSEA04LA182
Reported as
Cessna 172E
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
1,281 total145 in this make and model1 in the last 90 days
N5788TRegistered now · Cessna 172ES/N 17251688Airframe modelCessna 172EEngine 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) The pilot stated that on his preflight inspection that he stuck his fingers in both tanks and could feel fuel on his fingers. The aircraft departed apex airport (S42), silverdale, WA. At 1358 while conducting a search and rescue mission. Inspection of the aircraft at the accident site indicated that the aircraft had in all probability ran out of fuel. The pilot had estimated that he had been airborne approximately two hours when he had observed the right tank indicating 3/4 full. The pilot stated that approximately 5 minutes later that the right tank indicated 1/4 tank of fuel remaining. The pilot stated that he decided that he should head for Port Angeles to get fuel and that approximately 15 minutes later the engine had quit. The pilot stated that he switched to the left tank which indicated that he had 1/4 tank and the engine had started and ran normally when approximately 5 minutes later the engine quit again. The pilot spotted a field approximately 8 miles west of Port Angeles airport and landed a little long where he encountered a ditch.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT ON HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THAT HE STUCK HIS FINGERS IN BOTH TANKS AND COULD FEEL FUEL ON HIS FINGERS. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED APEX AIRPORT (S42), SILVERDALE, WA. AT 1358 WHILE CONDUCTING A SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AT THE ACCIDENT SITE INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD IN ALL PROBABILITY RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE PILOT HAD ESTIMATED THAT HE HAD BEEN AIRBORNE APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS WHEN HE HAD OBSERVED THE RIGHT TANK INDICATING 3/4 FULL. THE PILOT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER THAT THE RIGHT TANK INDICATED 1/4 TANK OF FUEL REMAINING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DECIDED THAT HE SHOULD HEAD FOR PORT ANGELES TO GET FUEL AND THAT APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE HAD QUIT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SWITCHED TO THE LEFT TANK WHICH INDICATED THAT HE HAD 1/4 TANK AND THE ENGINE HAD STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY WHEN APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE QUIT AGAIN. THE PILOT SPOTTED A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES WEST OF PORT ANGELES AIRPORT AND LANDED A LITTLE LONG WHERE HE ENCOUNTERED A DITCH.

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 SEA04LA182Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPort Angeles, WAThe pilot's inadequate inflight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of power. Factors contributing to the accident included the fence and the ditch.Sep 5, 2004 · Substantial damage