# NTSB ATL01LA067: Cessna 172N, N75579, Colquitt, GA, June 17, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 2001, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Colquitt, GA - Coordinates: 31.150272, -84.669845 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1503&lon=-84.6698&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 52558 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52558/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA067 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to use the fuel selector valve properly which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent loss of engine power, and the pilot's improper flare during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fuel tank selector position - incorrect, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The student pilot was performing a solo cross country. While at 3,000 feet cruise altitude, the engine lost power after the student pilot moved the fuel selector to a position between the fuel tank detents. The student pilot made an emergency landing to a nearby field. The airplane sustained major structure damage during the emergency landing. The post-accident examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 2001, at 1200 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N75579, collided with the ground during an attempted emergency landing following the loss of engine power . The supervised, solo training flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the student pilot had no injuries. The flight initially departed Quincy Municipal Airport, Quincy, Florida, at 1100. Reportedly, the student pilot made a full stop landing at Early County Airport, Blakely, Georgia. After takeoff, the pilot climbed to a cruising altitude of 3,500 feet. Due to clouds up ahead, he then made a descent down to 3,000 feet and leveled off. According to the student pilot, the right wing of the airplane was a little heavy so he positioned the fuel selector to a position between "Both" and "Right" tank positions. The student pilot was unaware that the fuel selector must be in the "Indent" to ensure fuel flow. The engine quit approximately 1-1/2 minutes later. The student pilot went through the emergency checklist and moved the fuel selector valve to the "Both" position. After efforts to restart the engine failed, the student pilot selected a nearby peanut field for an emergency landing. Approximately 50 feet above the ground, the propeller stopped. During the approach to land the airplane impacted the ground, nose first. Examination of the engine failed to disclose any mechanical failures. No mechanical failures were reported by the pilot. The student pilot was counseled and taken to a similar airplane were he was given a detailed explanation of how the fuel selector valve works. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75579](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75579-2002-05-15), registration cancelled 2002-05-15, S/N 17267823 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172-67823 - Airframe hours: 8220 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Mohammad Faruqui - Registered owner: Eagle Aircraft Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 7, 2001, 10 hours before - Departed: 11J, Early County, GA - Destination: MGR, Moultrie, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total, 34 in this make and model, 12 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: ABY, 7 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 20010617011899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010617011899A), Jun 17, 2001: Cessna 172N, Colquitt, GA, No damage. (-23)After takeoff, pilot moved fuel selector valve from "both" to a position between "both" and "right". Pilot believed the aircraft would use more fuel from… ## Other investigations on N75579 (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 MKC87LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC87LA032), Dec 14, 1986: Cessna 172P (N75579), Pine Bluff, AR, substantial damage 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.