# NTSB ATL07CA050: Cessna 172K, N46588, Paris, TN, March 12, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 12, 2007, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Paris, TN - Coordinates: 36.299083, -88.300704 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2991&lon=-88.3007&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Memphis FSDO-25 - NTSB case key (mKey): 65411 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07CA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65411/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07CA050 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - berm - Nose over, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis The airplane nosed over during a forced landing following a total loss of power. The pilot stated he was in cruise flight at 3,000 feet heading north when the engine sputtered. The pilot switched the fuel tanks, turned the carburetor heat on, and turned towards the nearest airport. The pilot contacted the fixed base operator (FBO) at the airport on the UNICOM radio frequency and was informed the winds were favoring runway 20. On base leg to the runway, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot realized he could not make the runway, and made a hard left turn towards a cornfield. The nose landing gear collided with a berm/furrow in the corn field, the airplane bounced, and nosed over inverted. Two lineman located at the airport observed the accident. One lineman called the 911 emergency operator to report the accident, and the other lineman went to the accident site to assist. The lineman and a deputy sheriff arrived at the crash site. The deputy sheriff took a statement from the pilot. The lineman heard the pilot inform the deputy sheriff that he ran the airplane out of fuel and came up short on the landing while attempting to reach the airport. Examination of the airplane by the FAA revealed no smell of fuel or leakage of fuel was present at the crash site. The airplane was turned over by recovery personnel. The left and right fuel caps were removed and were found to have a tight seal. The left and right fuel tanks were not ruptured and no fuel was present. About one half ounce of fuel was drained from the left and right fuel tank drains. The airplane was recovered to the airport and secured for an engine run. Five gallons of fuel was added to the left main fuel tank. The engine was started, it ran, and was shut down. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated he obtained fuel on March 9, 2007, at Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and continued on the personal flight to Chattanooga, Tennessee. The pilot stated he did not obtain any fuel before departing Chattanooga on March 12, 2007, en-route to Kentucky Dam State Park. The pilot's final destination was Memphis, Tennessee. No flight plan was filed, however a computer weather briefing was obtained. The pilot departed Chattanooga at 1100 and flew to the south end of Kentucky Lake. The airplane was in cruise flight at 3,000 feet heading north when the engine sputtered. The pilot switched the fuel tanks, turned the carburetor heat on, and turned towards Henry County Airport located in the vicinity of Paris, Tennessee. The pilot contacted the fixed base operator (FBO) 9 miles from the airport on the UNICOM radio frequency and was informed the winds were favoring runway 20. The pilot contacted the FBO on base leg to the runway, requested the winds, and the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot realized he could not make the runway, and made a hard left turn towards a cornfield. The nose landing gear collided with a berm/furrow in the corn field, the airplane bounced, and nosed over inverted. Two lineman located at the airport observed the accident. One lineman called the 911 emergency operator to report the accident, and the other lineman went to the accident site to assist. The lineman and a deputy sheriff arrived at the crash site. The deputy sheriff took a statement from the pilot before the pilot and his wife were transported to a local area hospital. The lineman heard the pilot state to the deputy sheriff, that the pilot had run the airplane out of fuel. The pilot also stated that he came up short on his landing while attempting to make it to the airport. The FAA arrived at the accident site on March 12, 2007, and examined the airplane. No smell or leakage of fuel was present at the crash site. The FAA returned to the accident site on March 13, 2007, and examined the airplane after it had been turned over by recovery personnel. The left and right fuel caps were removed and had a tight seal. The left and right fuel tanks were not ruptured and no fuel was present. About one half ounce of fuel was drained from the left and right fuel tank drains. No leakage or browning of vegetation was present at the crash site. The airplane was recovered to the airport and secured for an engine run. Five gallons of fuel was added to the left main fuel tank. The engine was started, ran, and shut down. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46588](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46588-2008-01-11), registration cancelled 2008-01-11, S/N 17257371, 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: 17257371 - Airframe hours: 7129 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jay Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2007, 920.3 hours before - Departed: KCHA, Chattanooga, TN - Destination: M01, Memphis, TN - Airport: KPHT, Henry County Airport, runway 20, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 3,547 total, 1,015 in this make and model, 2,759 as pilot in command, 143 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: KMKL, 51 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.