# NTSB ATL02LA135: Cessna 172, N4406L, Perry, GA, June 27, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 27, 2002, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Perry, GA - Coordinates: 32.510555, -83.767219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5106&lon=-83.7672&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55073 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55073/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55073 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA135 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection that resulted in fuel starvation due to fuel system contamination 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 - aircraft preflight - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system - starvation (cause) - fuel system - contamination (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot while returning from a local flight the engine lost power. During the forced landing the airplane struck power lines. No prior flight control or mechanical problems were reported. A large quantity of dirt was found during the visual examination of the fuel tanks. The fuel strainer and the carburetor fuel screen also contained dirt. The pilot did not report completing a preflight inspection of the before the flight. According to the Cessna 172 owner's manual, on the first flight of the day or after refueling, during the exterior inspection of the airplane, the fuel strainer should be drained to clear the fuel system of possible water and sediment. ## Factual narrative On June 27, 2002, at 1830 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N4406L, collided with a power line during an emergency descent to a private airstrip in Perry, Georgia. The airplane was registered to and owned by the commercial pilot. The personal 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. The commercial pilot and passenger received serious injuries. The flight from the private airstripin Perry, Georgia, at 1800. According to the pilot, while returning from a local flight, approximately 1 mile north of the private airstrip the engine began to lose power. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude, and the pilot could not clear the powerlines. The pilot attempted to fly under the power lines and struck one of the lines. The airplane flipped inverted, and came to rest upside down in a field approximately 1/4 mile from the end of the runway. According to a witness, the airplane was on a low final approach when it struck a powerline. The witness saw a cloud of smoke, and the airplane collided with the terrain below the power lines. Examination revealed the nose wheel was separated from the airframe and the fuselage was buckled. A visual examination of the fuel tanks revealed large quantities of dirt. Dirt was also discovered in the fuel strainer and the carburetor fuel screen. No prior flight control or mechanical problems were reported before the flight. The pilot did not report completing a preflight inspection before the flight. According to the Cessna 172 owner's manual, on the first flight of the day or after refueling, during the exterior inspection of the airplane, the fuel strainer should be drained to clear the fuel system of possible water and sediment. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4406L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4406L-2012-08-14), registration cancelled 2012-08-14, S/N 17254491 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17254491 - Airframe hours: 1851 - Engines: Continental O-300D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Norman E. Lasater - Registered owner: Jim Elrod - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2002, 6 hours before - Departed: 68GA, Perry, GA - Airport: 68GA, Middle Georgia, runway 18, 2,500 × 75 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 57; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 20, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 2,400 total, 2,200 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; injuries: serious; student; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MCN ## 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 20020627030539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020627030539A), Jun 27, 2002: Cessna 172G, Perry, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 27, 2002, at 1824 EST, N4406L, a Cessna 172G collided with a power line during an approach to a private airstrip in Perry, Georgia. The airplane… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 23, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55073. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 247 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448258&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Form 337 (item 2, .PDF, 699 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448259&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Form%20337-Master.PDF - Supplement S (item 3, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40181178&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Police Report (item 4, .PDF, 207 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448260&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Police%20Report-Master.PDF 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.