# NTSB ATL03LA057: Cessna 172, N3287L, Camden, SC, March 8, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 8, 2003, 00:56 local (05:56 UTC) - Place: Camden, SC - Coordinates: 34.283611, -80.56472 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2836&lon=-80.5647&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: South Carolina FSDO 13 - NTSB case key (mKey): 56628 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56628/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA057 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion, subsequent loss of engine power and an in-flight collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - high terrain ## Analysis The personal flight was several miles from the destination airport in Camden, South Carolina, when the engine lost power. Efforts by the pilot to restore engine power failed. The airplane collided with and was lodged in the tops of trees about three miles short of the runway at Woodward Field, South Carolina. Examination of the airplane revealed the wings were severely damaged. Left inboard wing and flap bent downward, inboard leading edge of left wing bent, and tip of left wing broken off. Right outboard leading edge crushed and tip broken upward. The nose cowling and engine mounts were bent. During the wreckage recovery operation, no fuel was recovered from the fuel system. Post-accident investigation of the engine revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On March 9, 2003, at 0056 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172, N3287L, registered to and operated by Seritech Inc., collided with trees during an emergency landing following a loss of engine power near Camden, South Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with a VFR flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed Grand Strand Airport in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at 2345 on March 8, 2003. The personal flight was several miles from the destination airport in Camden when the engine lost power. Efforts by the pilot to restore engine power failed. The airplane collided with and was lodged in the tops of trees about three miles short of the runway at Woodward Field. Examination of the airplane revealed the wings were severely damaged. Left inboard wing and flap bent downward, inboard leading edge of left wing bent, and tip of left wing broken off. Right outboard leading edge crushed and tip broken upward. The nose cowling and engine mounts were bent. The distance between Grand Strand Airport in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Woodward Field, Camden, South Carolina is approximately 96 nautical miles. According to the pilot, on March 5, 2003 he filled both fuel tanks to the maximum level. That same day, the pilot flew from Woodward Field to Grand Strand Airport and back to Woodward Field. The next day, on March 6, the pilot flew again from Woodward Field to Grand Strand Airport then back to Woodward Field. On March 8, the pilot stated that he put 7.5 gallons in each tank. During the wreckage recovery operation, no fuel was recovered from the fuel system. Later examination of the engine revealed that the engine operation tested normal. The engine was mounted on a test fixture with the necessary fuel supply and ran at various RPM up to 1000 RPM for 2 minutes. It was shut off to check for leaks, none noted, then ran again for an additional 2 minutes at 1400 RPM. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3287L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3287L-2013-02-25), registration cancelled 2013-02-25, S/N 17256187, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17256187 - Airframe hours: 2221.3 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Seritech, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 2002, 95 hours before - Departed: CRE, North Myrtle Be, SC - Destination: Camden, SC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: CDN, Camden Woodward ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 4, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 204 total, 194 in this make and model, 153 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,200 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: SSC, 19 nm away 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.