# NTSB ATL89LA102: Cessna 172G, N1365F, Coolidge, GA, March 11, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 11, 1989, 18:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place: Coolidge, GA
- Coordinates: 31.010738, -83.8591 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0107&lon=-83.8591&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7997
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA102
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7997/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA102

## Probable cause

FUEL CONTAMINATION OF AN UNKNOWN ORIGIN, FAILURE OF COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO LOCATE AND REMOVE ALL CONTAMINATION, CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT AFTER THE CAUSE OF A KNOWN ENGINE PROBLEM WAS NOT DETERMINED, AND SUBSEQUENT FUEL STARVATION.  THE LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DUSK AND THE SOFT TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ENGINE LOST PWR DURING A FERRY FLT & A FORCED LDG WAS MADE IN A SOFT FIELD, WHERE THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. A POST-CRASH INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR FUEL-INLET FILTER SCREEN WAS MOSTLY BLOCKED WITH A LINT-LIKE MATERIAL. A MICROSCOPIC EXAM OF THE MATERIAL REVEALED THAT IT APPEARED TO BE CLOTH FIBERS. THE SOURCE OF THE MATERIAL WAS NOT DETERMINED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE HAD EXPERIENCED REPEATED, INTERMITTENT PWR LOSSES OVER THE PREVIOUS WEEK IN SPITE OF REPEATED EFFORTS BY COMPANY MECHANICS TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS, CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL SYSTEM DURING THOSE EFFORTS; THE FILTERS WERE CLEANED AND THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED. THE INTERMITTENT POWER LOSSES OCCURRED AGAIN. EARLIER ON THIS FLT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SURGE & A PRECAUTIONARY LDG WAS MADE. THE MECHANIC ACCOMPANYING THE PLT REPORTEDLY FOUND NO PROBLEMS AND THE FLT WAS CONTINUED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 1 HR LATER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1365F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1365F), registered now, S/N 17254860 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172G
- Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-d) (registry code 17176, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17254860
- Airframe hours: 4444
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Flewellen Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Flewellen Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 31, 1989, 56 hours before
- Departed: X31, CRYSTAL RIVER, FL
- Destination: ABY, ALBANY, GA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,706 total, 149 in this make and model, 2,590 as pilot in command, 107 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F

## 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 19890311003909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890311003909A), Mar 11, 1989: Cessna 172G, Coolidge, GA, Substantial damage. Had prior problems with fuel contamination corrected. Then engine quit on ferry flight. Same fibrous contamination.

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.