# Accident 20220324004179A: Cessna L-19E, Sunflower, MS, March 24, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 24, 2022, 12:00 local time
- Place: Sunflower, MS
- Airport: Box Fld
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.5355° N, 90.5399° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5355&lon=-90.5399&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4583S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4583S) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna L-19E (registry code 2074016, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-l-19e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA L-19E
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-470-11
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,775 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22LA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA178) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220324004179A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT STATED:

THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE CEASED OPERATION AS I WAS RETURNING TO BOX FIELD 45MS FOR LANDING AFTER A FLIGHT OF APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR FOR VERIFICATION OF AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE, SYSTEMS AND NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT FOLLOWED BY A FULL STOP LANDING AT KIDL (INDIANOLA MS. MUNICIPAL AIRPORT). ILD IS 8 NM FROM BOX FIELD.

BETWEEN 45MS AND IDL, FUEL SELECTOR WAS MOVED TO AUX TANK FROM THE MAIN TO VERIFY FEED OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. UP TO THAT POINT THE ENTIRE FLIGHT HAD BEEN CONDUCTED ON THE MAIN TANK WITH NO ISSUE. BOTH MAIN AND AUX HAD IN EXCESS OF 10 GALLONS ACCORDING TO THE COCKPIT GAUGES. ALTITUDE WAS 500 FEET AGL AND ENGINE RPM WAS 2450. APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES AFTER SWITCHING TO THE AUX TANK THE ENGINE MISSED MUCH LIKE IF THE MAGS WERE SWITCHED OFF THEN IMMEDIATELY BACK ON. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE BOOST PUMP ON AND SELECTED THE MAIN TANK AND PROCEEDED STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE INTENDED LANDING SITE, 45MS WHICH WAS WITHIN EYESIGHT. 30 SECONDS TO 45 SECONDS LATER, THE ENGINE WITHOUT ANY WARNING CEASED OPERATION. BEST DESCRIPTION IS THE ENGINE WENT IMMEDIATELY FROM 2450 RPM TO NO POWER. I ATTEMPTED A RESTART WITH THE BOOST PUMP ON AND THROTTLE FULLY OPEN HOWEVER THE ENGINE DID NOT START. MIXTURE WAS SET AT RULL RICH NEVER ADJUSTED AT ANY TIME DURING THE FLIGHT. I SELECTED A LANDING SITE IN A FARM FIELD THAT HAD BEEN CLEARED OF THE CROP LAST FALL AS IT APPEARED THE AIRCRAFT GLIDE PATH WOULD BE SHORT OF LANDING AT 45MS. THE TRAJECTORY OF THE PATH GAVE ME CONCERN THAT I POSSIBLY COULD TOUCHDOWN OR ROLL INTO AN AREA OF DEEP DITCHES THAT WAS BETWEEN MY POSITION AND THE NORTH END OF THE 36/18 RUNWAY AT 45MS. AT APPROXIMATELY A HEIGHT OF 10 FEET AGL I DID A FULL STALL LANDING FOLLOWED BY A ROLL OUT. AS I ROLLED INTO A SOFTER PORTION OF THE FIELD THE MAIN WHEELS BOGGED DOWN IN MUD. THE AIRCRAFT TAIL THEN RAISED UP ON THE MAINS AND PROCEEDED TO GO OVER. I LEARNED LATER THAT DAY FROM THE FARM MANAGER THAT THE FIELD HAD BEEN DOUBLE CHISELED PLOWED AFTER HARVEST AND THERE HAD BEEN RECENT RAINS, A COMBINATION THAT MADE THE FIELD SOFT UNDERFOOT.

## 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 CEN22LA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA178), Mar 24, 2022: Cessna L-19E (N4583S), Sunflower, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.

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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