# Accident 20041128033549A: Cessna 172H, Belle Plain, MN, November 28, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 28, 2004, 14:43 local time
- Place: Belle Plain, MN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.6664° N, 93.7836° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6664&lon=-93.7836&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2663L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2663L-2006-08-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172H (registry code 2072424, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 250 total, 250 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI05LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05LA037) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041128033549A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT WAS INTERVIEWED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. HE STATED THAT AIRCRAFT ENGINE STOPPED ABRUPTLY AT 5500MSL, HE PRIMED TWICE AND EACH PRIME RESULTED IN MOMENTARY ENGINE RESTART. HE STATED HE HAD FLOWN LESS THAN TWO HOURS ON FULL TANKS. WITH MASTER SWITCH ON, BOTH TANKS INDICATED BELOW EMPTY, AND NO FUEL COULD BE DISCERNED IN EITHER TANK. THE FOLLOWING MORNING I RETURNED TO ACCIDENT SITE AND PUT MY FINGERS IN TANKS AND TOUCHED FUEL, AND THE RIGHT TANK INDICATED ONE QUARTER FULL. AIRCRAFT RECOVERY TEAM SALVAGED 8 GALLONS TOTAL FROM AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT HAS 39 GALLON CAPACITY AND BURNS 8 GALLONS PER HOUR, AT LESS THAN TWO HOURS FLIGHT, TANKS SHOULD HAVE HELD 23+ GALLONS. NO EVIDENCE OF SPILLED FUEL ON GROUND. PILOT AT FIRST STATED THAT HE FUELED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THEN STATED LATER THAT HE FLEW THE NIGHT BEFORE AND TOPPED OFF THE NIGHT PREVIOUS TO DEPARTURE. HE STATED INITIALLY THAT HE FLEW ONLY MINUTES THE NIGHT BEFORE AND SHOULD HAVE TAKEN VERY LITTLE FUEL, WHEN I INFORMED HIM THAT THE FBO RECORDED A ONE GALLON FUELING FOR THE TIME HE INDICATED, HE STATED THAT THEY MUST NOT HAVE FUELED ONE WING.

## 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 CHI05LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05LA037), Nov 28, 2004: Cessna 172H (N2663L), Belle Plaine, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during descent, and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing.

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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