# NTSB ATL05CA157: Cessna 172F, N5320R, Haleyville, AL, September 4, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 4, 2005, 18:57 local (23:57 UTC) - Place: Haleyville, AL - Coordinates: 34.280277, -87.60028 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2803&lon=-87.6003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birmingham FSD)-09 - NTSB case key (mKey): 62385 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05CA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62385/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA157 ## Probable cause The pilots inadequate preflight of the fuel tank resulting in a total loss of engine power in cruise flight due to fuel exhaustion, resulting in a forced landing, and nose over on landing roll out. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot stated during the preflight inspection that the left and right fuel gauge indicated a quarter tank of fuel. The pilot did not visually check the fuel tank or stick the fuel tank before departing on the flight. While in cruise flight at 1,500 feet MSL, the engine sputtered and lost. The pilot stated he looked at the left and right fuel gauge and they both indicated empty. The pilot made a forced landing to an open field and the airplane collided with a burrow and flipped over. The pilot stated, "there were not a mechanical malfunction, he simply failed to ensure he had sufficient fuel on the airplane during the preflight inspection." ## Factual narrative On September 4, 2005, at 1857 central daylight time, a Cessna 172F, N5320R, registered to and operated by a private owner, as a 14 CFR Part 91 visual flight, nosed over during a forced landing in a field near Haleyville, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a visual flight plan was not filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private pilot was not injured. The flight departed Posey Field, Haleyville, Alabama, on September 4, 2005, at 1842. The pilot stated during the preflight inspection that the left and right fuel gauge indicated a quarter tank of fuel. The pilot did not visually check the fuel tank or stick the fuel tank before departing on the flight. While in cruise flight at 1,500 feet MSL, the engine sputtered and lost. The pilot stated he looked at the left and right fuel gauge and they both indicated empty. The pilot made a forced landing to an open field and the airplane collided with a burrow and flipped over. The pilot stated, there were not a mechanical malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5320R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5320R-2013-01-30), registration cancelled 2013-01-30, S/N 17252844, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172F - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17252844 - Airframe hours: 4209 - Engines: Continental O-300D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Harold H. Bearden - Registered owner: Harold H. Bearden - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2005, 3 hours before - Departed: 1M4, Haleyville, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: MSL, 27 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 20050904020019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050904020019A), Sep 4, 2005: Cessna 172F, Haleyville, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft made an off airport landing due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot stated that the fuel gauges showed 1/4 in each tank before he departed for a… 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.