# NTSB ATL05LA031: Cessna 172K, N78402, Smyrna, TN, November 29, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 29, 2004, 05:11 local (11:11 UTC) - Place: Smyrna, TN - Coordinates: 35.55389, -87.178886 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5539&lon=-87.1789&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Nashville FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 60628 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60628/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA031 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning of fuel required for the flight, and his inadequate in-flight planning/decision which resulted in fuel exhaustion 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, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ground - object - fence ## Analysis The private pilot stated he visually checked the fuel tanks before departing on the VFR flight and fuel was present in the fuel tanks. He could not remember what time he departed. While turning from base to final at his destination airport the engine quit. He switched the fuel tanks and attempted a restart which was unsuccessful. The airplane cleared trees at the approach end of the runway and collided with the ground. The nose gear separated, the airplane continued forward, and collided with the airport fence. Examination of the crash site revealed the left and right fuel tanks were not ruptured. No fuel was present in either fuel tank. The airplane was recovered to an airport hangar and the left and right fuel sumps were drained. One fourth of a gallon of fuel was removed from the left fuel tank drain. No fuel was recovered from the right fuel tank drain. A support brace was placed under the airplane. The engine was started and the engine ran at idle power for 3 minutes before the engine lost power. ## Factual narrative On November 29, 2004, at 0511 central standard time, a Cessna 172K, N78402, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with the ground and a fence during an emergency landing after a total loss of engine power while turning final to Smyrna Airport, Smyrna, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The private pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Columbia, Tennessee, at an undetermined time on November 29, 2004. The private pilot stated he visually checked the fuel tanks before departing Columbia, Tennessee, and fuel was present in the fuel tanks. He also stated he could not remember what time he departed. He stated while turning from base to final the engine quit. He switched the fuel tanks and attempted a restart which was unsuccessful. The airplane cleared trees off the approach end of the runway and collided with the ground, the nose gear separated, the airplane continued forward, and collided with the airport fence. The pilot informed law enforcement officials at the crash site that, "during the flight he experienced stronger winds than expected and used more fuel than he thought." In addition, the pilot could not produce a pilot's certificate, medical certificate, drivers license, or airplane log books when requested by law enforcement personnel. The date of the pilot's last biennial flight review was not determined, and the pilot's medical certificate was expired. Examination of the crash site revealed the leading edge of the right wing was damaged and the spar was bent. The left and right fuel tanks were not ruptured. No fuel was present in either fuel tank. The airplane was recovered to an airport hangar at Smyrna Airport for examination. The left and right fuel sumps were drained and 1/4 gallon of fuel was removed from the left fuel tank drain. No fuel was recovered from the right fuel tank drain. During the post-accident examination of the airplane, a support brace was placed under the airplane. The engine was then started and ran at an idle power setting for three minutes before the engine quit. A certified letter was mailed to the pilot on November 30, 2004, with the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report as an enclosure. The letter was returned to the NTSB on January 3, 2005, as "unclaimed." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N78402](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78402-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 17257603, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17257603 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E-2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jerry L. Darnell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MRC, Columbia, TN - Destination: MQY, Smyrna, TN - Airport: MQY, Smyrna Airport, runway 32, 8,036 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: MQY ## 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 20041129034369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041129034369A), Nov 29, 2004: Cessna 172K, Smyrna, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) On November 29, 2004 the pilot [privacy data omitted] departed maury county airport (mrc) around 3:30 am after airport security found him sleeping in his… 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.