# NTSB ATL01LA007: Cessna 172-B, N7894X, Palatka, FL, October 13, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 13, 2000, 09:21 local (13:21 UTC) - Place: Palatka, FL - Coordinates: 29.640726, -81.649452 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6407&lon=-81.6495&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50466 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50466/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA007 ## Probable cause The CFI's inadequate preflight planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - vehicle (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while on the fourth touch-and-go approach, the engine lost power and quit about 3/4 of a mile short of the runway. The pilot selected a forced landing area and attempted a landing on a nearby road. During the approach to land the airplane collided with an automobile. The on-scene examination of the airplane revealed that less then one gallon of fuel remained in both fuel tanks. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were found during the engine examination. ## Factual narrative On October 13, 2000, at 0921 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172B, N7894X, collided with an automobile during a forced landing on Junior College Road in Palatka, Florida. The airplane was operated by the Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local training flight. The CFI received minor injuries, the student pilot no injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage, and the occupant of the automobile was not injured. The flight originated from Crescent City, Florida, at 0830. According to the CFI, the flight departed Thunderbird Air Park (26J) in Crescent City, Florida, at 0830 eastern daylight time on a training flight to Kay Larkin Airport (28J) in Palatka, Florida, to practice touch and go landings. After arrival at Kay Larkin Airport three touch and go landings were successfully completed. On the fourth approach the engine quit at about 3/4 of a mile from the runway. The student pilot said that they made a forced landing on Jr. Collage Road, and had only a short distance to set the plane down before the road came to an end at the intersection of St. Johns Avenue. Attempts failed to stop the airplane on the road and the airplane traveled down into a drainage ditch that parallels St. Johns Avenue. Power lines crossed over, and then parallel Jr. Collage Road shortening the landing distance available for the airplane. A automobile, with one occupant onboard, was struck at the intersection of Jr. Collage Road and St. Johns Avenue. On-scene examination of the airplane revealed that less then one gallon of fuel remained in both fuel tanks. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were found during the engine examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7894X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7894X-2004-05-04), registration cancelled 2004-05-04, S/N 17248394, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172-B - Registry model: [Cessna 172B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172b) (registry code 2072406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17248394 - Airframe hours: 5487 - Engines: Continental O-300-D-6DR 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard L. Morrison - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2000, 2 hours before - Departed: 26J, CRESCENT CITY, FL - Destination: 28J - Airport: 28J, Kay Larkin, runway 35, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,285 total, 49 in this make and model, 3,103 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KGN, 36 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20001013015339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001013015339A), Oct 13, 2000: Cessna 172B, Palatka, FL, No damage. (-23) PIC flight instructor reported that he and student pilot departed thunderbird airport (26J) at 0830, for touch and go's at kay larkin airport 20 miles… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.