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20230901014889A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Cessna R172K · Plover, WI · September 1, 2023

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
September 1, 2023 · 13:50 local
Place
Plover, WI
Phase of flight
Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N172SP
NTSB investigation
NTSBCEN23LA393
Reported as
Cessna R172K
Reported engine
Continental IO-360 series
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
2,226 total1,397 in this make and model40 in the last 90 days
N172SPRegistered now · Cessna R172KS/N R172-2842 · Built 1977Airframe modelCessna R172KEngine modelContinental IO-360 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.

PIC indicated that he had taken the aircraft for service of the landing gear actuators at the south st paul, MN airport (ksgs). When the aircraft was released, the PIC noticed that there were several control settings that were not in their normal position. After correcting these items, the PIC departed for waupaca, WI (kpcz) for a fuel stop.

As the aircraft was approaching the stevens point, WI area the PIC felt the aircraft engine “hesitate” a couple of times. The PIC then elected to turn toward the stevens point airport (kste) to investigate. Shortly after the engine lost power.

The PIC then went through a series of decisions as to where to land the aircraft and decided on a road. At the same time, he tried the auxiliary fuel pump, but did no other troubleshooting, or followed any emergency checklist. As he approached the road he contacted a car, then a road sign before he came to rest.

After speaking with the operator of the vehicle the PIC called his mechanic and as he was speaking with him, he noticed that the fuel selector was in the left tank position and the left tank was out of fuel.

As the FAA filed it

PIC INDICATED THAT HE HAD TAKEN THE AIRCRAFT FOR SERVICE OF THE LANDING GEAR ACTUATORS AT THE SOUTH ST PAUL, MN AIRPORT (KSGS). WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS RELEASED, THE PIC NOTICED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL CONTROL SETTINGS THAT WERE NOT IN THEIR NORMAL POSITION. AFTER CORRECTING THESE ITEMS, THE PIC DEPARTED FOR WAUPACA, WI (KPCZ) FOR A FUEL STOP.

AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROACHING THE STEVENS POINT, WI AREA THE PIC FELT THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE “HESITATE” A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE PIC THEN ELECTED TO TURN TOWARD THE STEVENS POINT AIRPORT (KSTE) TO INVESTIGATE. SHORTLY AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER.

THE PIC THEN WENT THROUGH A SERIES OF DECISIONS AS TO WHERE TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT AND DECIDED ON A ROAD. AT THE SAME TIME, HE TRIED THE AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP, BUT DID NO OTHER TROUBLESHOOTING, OR FOLLOWED ANY EMERGENCY CHECKLIST. AS HE APPROACHED THE ROAD HE CONTACTED A CAR, THEN A ROAD SIGN BEFORE HE CAME TO REST.

AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE THE PIC CALLED HIS MECHANIC AND AS HE WAS SPEAKING WITH HIM, HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE LEFT TANK POSITION AND THE LEFT TANK WAS OUT OF FUEL.

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 CEN23LA393Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPlover, WIThe pilot’s inadequate fuel management which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.Sep 1, 2023 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N172SP · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20030601019119ILevel Off Touchdown · Detroit/Grosse, MI(-23) The pilot (charles d. gillan) stated that while on base leg, he changed his mind from landing on rwy 4, to do a "touch and go" on the water to the right side of that rwy but had already completed the landing checklist (to rwy 4). He neglected to retract…Jun 1, 2003 · Minor damageIncident 20020711036449IFinal Approach · Detroit/Grosse, MI(-23) On final approach the engine quit, after setting up for best glide, I attempted to restart & engine restarted for 10 seconds, I then ditched the aircraft 1500' short of runway 35 in the water.Jul 11, 2002 · Minor damage