# NTSB ATL04LA082: Cessna 172N, N6257F, Knoxville, TN, March 10, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 10, 2004, 09:57 local (14:57 UTC) - Place: Knoxville, TN - Coordinates: 35.885555, -83.957496 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8856&lon=-83.9575&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 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Nashville FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58884 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58884/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA082 ## Probable cause The CFI's inadequate in-flight planning/decision and his inadequate supervision which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor was the inadequate preflight planning/preparation to ensure an adequate fuel supply, and the berm. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fuel system - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis According to the certified flight instructor, approximately 3 miles from the destination airport the engine began to "sputter", and then quit. The certified flight instructor offered to take control of the airplane to make the forced landing but the private pilot said he felt comfortable making the forced landing. The certified flight instructor allow the private pilot to make the forced landing in a open field. During the forced landing the airplane collided with a berm. The pilot's did not report any flight control anomalies prior to the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed the propeller was bent aft, the nose wheel broke off at the strut, and the fuselage was buckled. Examination of the fuel system revealed a small trace of fuel was found in the left and right fuel tanks, and no blockage was noted in the fuel lines. Review of the Cessna pilots operating handbook revealed in Section 7: the total usable fuel in standard configuration is 40 gallons with 3 gallons unusable. In long range configuration 50 gallons usable, and 4 gallons unusable. ## Factual narrative On March 10, 2004, at 0957 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172N, N6257F, registered to and operated by East Tennessee Pilots Club made an emergency forced landing in a field near Sky Ranch Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee. The instructional flight was conducted under the provision of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with a IFR flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The certified flight instructor and private pilot reported minor injuries. The flight departed Panama City Airport, Panama City, Florida on March 10, 2004 at 0600. According to the private pilot he had planned an instrument cross-country flight to Sky Ranch, Knoxville, Tennessee. During the flight to destination airport the private pilot topped off the fuel with 27 gallons at the Panama City Airport. According to the certified flight instructor he checked the private pilots flight plan, filed the flight plan for the cross-country flight, and departed from Panama City Airport. Approximately 3 miles from the airport the engine began to "sputter, and then quit". The certified flight instructor offer to take control of the airplane to make the forced landing but the private pilot said he felt comfortable making the forced landing. The certified flight instructor decided to allow the private pilot to make the forced landing in a open field. During the emergency forced landing the airplane collided with a berm. The pilot's did not report any flight control anomalies prior to the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed the propeller was bent aft, the nose wheel broke off at the strut, and the fuselage was buckled. Examination of the fuel system revealed a small trace of fuel was found in the left and right fuel tanks, and no blockage was noted in the fuel lines. Review of the Cessna pilots operating handbook revealed in Section 7: the total usable fuel in standard configuration is 40 gallons with 3 gallons unusable. In long range configuration 50 gallons usable, and 4 gallons unusable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6257F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6257F-2008-09-09), registration cancelled 2008-09-09, S/N 17273175, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273175 - Airframe hours: 5400 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: East Tennessee Pilots Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 17, 2004, 8 hours before - Departed: PFN, PANAMA CITY, FL - Destination: TYS, KNOXVILLE, TN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: TYS, Mc Ghee Tyson ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 16, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 700 total, 400 as pilot in command - Pilot; age 19; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 180 total, 118 in this make and model, 137 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: TYS, 3 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 20040310016879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040310016879A), Mar 10, 2004: Cessna 172N, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 10, 2004 at 0957 et aircraft N6257F, a CE-172-N, serial #17273175, made an emergency landing in a field 3.5 miles nw of tys airport due to… ## Other investigations on N6257F (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 ATL84LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84LA056), Jan 28, 1983: Cessna 172N (N6257F), Knoxville, TN, 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.