# Accident 20190910018619A: Cessna 172E, Grassy Butte, ND, September 10, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 10, 2019, 12:33 local time
- Place: Grassy Butte, ND
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.3786° N, 103.5897° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3786&lon=-103.5897&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5347T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5347T-2022-12-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172E (registry code 2072412, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172E
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 375 total, 250 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN19LA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA311) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190910018619A

## Narrative

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

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FUELED THE AIRCRAFT AT HIS RANCH AND TOOK OFF FROM THE GRAVEL ROAD INFRONT OF HIS RANCH.  DURING CLIMBOUT THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER AND CRASHED INTO A HAYFIELD NEXT TO THE ROAD.  AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PILOT REVEALED THAT APPROX A YEAR AGO HE HAD BOUGHT A USED SERVICE TANK TO KEEP AT HIS RANCH FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUELING HIS AIRCRAFT.  THE TANK HAD NOT BEEN USED IN THAT TIME DUE TO THE AIRCRAFT BEING DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE.  INSPECTION OF THE REMAINING AIRCRAFT FUEL (TANK AND CARBURATOR) AS WELL AS THE SERVICE TANK FILTER SYSTEM SHOWED LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS. THE PILOT STATED HE FUELED THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE RANCH SERVICE TANK AND DID NOT SUMP THE AIRCRAFT TANKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. PROPELLER DAMAGE INDICATED LITTLE OR NO POWER AT IMPACT.

## 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 CEN19LA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA311), Sep 10, 2019: Cessna 172 (N5347T), Grassy Butte, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel, and the pilot's failure to conduct a preflight inspection.

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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