# NTSB ATL83FA116: Cessna 172P, N54498, Red Bank, TN, February 22, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 22, 1983, 03:36 local (08:36 UTC)
- Place: Red Bank, TN
- Coordinates: 35.120246, -85.279045 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1202&lon=-85.2790&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 4 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5890
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83FA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5890/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FA116

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - communications/information/atc - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AT APRX 2200 EST, THE ACFT DEPARTED LANSING, IL ON A FLT TO COLUMBUS, GA. A PASSENGER STATED THAT A REFUELING STOP HAD BEEN PLANNED FOR EITHER BOWLING GREEN OR NASHVILLE. HOWEVER, A STOP WAS NOT MADE. THE PASSENGER INDICATED THAT THE PILOTS WERE UNSURE OF THE ACFT'S POSITION DURING THE FLT. AT APRX 0303 EST, THE AIRCREW CONTACTED ATLANTA CENTER & REQUESTED MILEAGE TO CHATTANOOGA. AT ABOUT 0328, CENTER NOTIFIED THEM THAT THE ACFT WAS APRX 28 MI NORTHWEST OF CHATTANOOGA. THE AIRCREW THEN REQUESTED TO BE ALIGNED FOR A STRAIGHT-IN APCH DUE TO LOW FUEL. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE AIRCREW TRANSMITTED THAT THEY HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL & WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REACH THE ARPT. DURING A FORCED LANDING AT NIGHT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES, THEN IMPACTED IN A PARKING LOT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N54498 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172-74989
- Airframe hours: 1200
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jarmuszka, Edward D.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 12, 1983, 27 hours before
- Departed: 3HA, LANSING, IL
- Destination: CSG, COLUMBUS, GA
- Airport: CHA, Lovell Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 20° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CHA, 10 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 19830222005059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830222005059A), Feb 22, 1983: Cessna 172P, Red Bank, TN, Substantial damage. Crash occurred during attempted emergency landing at night after engine quit from fuel exhaustion.

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.