# NTSB ATL05CA063: Cessna 175, N7148M, Charlotte, NC, March 18, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 18, 2005, 18:53 local (23:53 UTC) - Place: Charlotte, NC - Coordinates: 35.21389, -80.943054 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2139&lon=-80.9431&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Charlotte FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61169 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05CA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61169/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA063 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to follow the checklist by his failure to verify the fuel selector was in the on position which resulted in fuel starvation and the 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, descent - emergency - fluid,fuel - starvation - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuel tank selector position - not verified, pilot in command - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - other - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot stated that he departed Charlotte Douglas international Airport and climbed to 2,000 feet. The engine sputtered and lost power. He pulled the carburetor heat out, checked the magnetos, mixture full rich, and verified with his hand that the fuel selector was on both. He made a left turn back towards the airport and declared an emergency. The pilot made an emergency landing to a parking lot. The airplane collided with a curb, nosed over against a boulder, and a private automobile. The pilot stated that his mechanic changed the oil in his airplane before the first flight of the day. The mechanic informed the pilot that he had moved the fuel selector to the off position. The pilot stated he did not check the fuel selector valve during his preflight nor did he visually check it when the engine quit.. The pilot reported he did not verify the fuel selector valve position which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion." On scene examination of the fuel selector valve by the FAA revealed the fuel selector valve was in the off position and no anomalies were noted with the fuel selector valve. Review of the Cessna 175 Owner's Manual states in Figure 10. Exterior Inspection Diagram, "1. b. Turn off master switch, check ignition switch for "OFF" position, check tank selector on "BOTH." The Owner's Manual further sates on page 2-4, "BEFORE LANDING. (1) Set fuel selector to "both tanks." ## Factual narrative On March 18, 2005, at 1853 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 175, N7148M, registered to AIRSIGN LLC, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight , reported a loss of engine power while in cruise flight and made an emergency landing to a parking lot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The commercial pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina, on March 18, 2005, between 1848 and 1850. The pilot stated he departed Charlotte and climbed to 2,000 feet and was flight following with Charlotte Approach Control. The engine sputtered and quit. He pulled the carburetor heat out, checked the magnetos, mixture full rich, and verified with his hand that the fuel selector was on both. He made a left turn back towards the airport and declared an emergency. The pilot stated he was cleared by the controller to land on runway 18. The pilot informed the controller he was unable to make the runway and he was making an emergency landing on a road. The pilot observed a parking lot and made an emergency landing under some wires. The airplane bounced on touch down, collided with a curb, nosed over inverted against a bolder, and a private automobile. The pilot stated in a subsequent statement that his mechanic changed the oil in his airplane before the first flight of the day. The mechanic informed the pilot that he had moved the fuel selector to the off position. The pilot stated he did not check the fuel selector valve during his preflight nor did he visually check the fuel selector when the engine quit.. The pilot stated, "I screwed up by not verifying the fuel selector valve position which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation." On scene examination of the fuel selector valve by the FAA revealed the fuel selector valve was in the off position, and no anomalies were noted with the fuel selector valve. Review of the Cessna 175 Owner's Manual states in Figure 10. Exterior Inspection Diagram, "1. b. Turn off master switch, check ignition switch for "OFF" position, check tank selector on "BOTH." The Owner's Manual further sates on page 2-4, "BEFORE LANDING. (1) Set fuel selector to "both tanks." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7148M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7148M-2005-07-13), registration cancelled 2005-07-13, S/N 55448 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 175 - Registry model: [Cessna 175](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175) (registry code 2072502) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 55448 - Engines: Continental 0-470 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Airsign LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CLT, Charlotte, NC - Destination: 28A, Charlotte, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 4,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 70° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: CLT, 6 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 20050318005079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050318005079A), Mar 18, 2005: Cessna 175, Charlotte, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) The airman's competency is in question as his aircraft's engine experienced a power loss in-flight, the pilot declared an emergency, released his banner… ## Other investigations on N7148M (2) 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 CHI70DBD12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI70DBD12), Jan 13, 1970: Cessna 175 (N7148M), Ringwood, IL, substantial damage - [NTSB MKC66D0578](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC66D0578), Apr 25, 1966: Cessna 175 (N7148M), Kalona, IA, 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.