- Date
- November 3, 1985, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place
- Moncks Corner, SC
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N73171Cessna 172 M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19851103057299A
- Case key
- 7030
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt reported that the acft engine experienced a loss of power while being vectored for the initial ILS approach to charleston, SC (chs). Attempts by the plt to regain pwr failed and a forced landing was made in a swampy field a few miles north of chs. The acft nosed over inverted as it came to a stop and remained that way until it was removed from the site 3 days later. Examination of the acft revealed about 6 to 8 ounces of fuel in the fuel system and no contamination was detected. A total of 4 gallons of fuel was then added to the two wing tanks. The engine was readily started, using the acft battery, and it ran smoothly after a few seconds of roughness. The engine was run to full power and no defects were noted. Following shutdown, an examination of the fuel system revealed no leaks. The pilot stated that the acft was topped off prior to departure and should have had 5 hrs of fuel. The pilot reported the total engine running time at 4 hrs 40 minutes.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N73171
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17267298
- Airframe hours
- 3,809
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Usaf Andrews Bollinc Aero Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 25, 1985 · 28 hours before
- Departed
- ADW · Andrews Afb, DC
- Destination
- CHS · Charleston, SC
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- CHS · Charleston, runway 15
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 501 total · 63 in this make and model · 451 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,400 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CHS, 13 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.