- Date
- July 2, 1993, 13:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place
- Seneca, SC
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5812ACessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930702022139A
- Case key
- 3234
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper preflight planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion.
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
While returning to Seneca, south carolina, following two en route stops, the engine lost power and the pilot force landed in a field. Witnesses stated that the pilot had fueled the aircraft the night before the accident flight using five gallon cans. There was no evidence of refueling the day of the accident at any of the en route stops. Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed that one gallon of fuel remained in the fuel system.
Factual narrative
On July 2, 1993, at about 1350 eastern daylight time a Cessna 172, N5812A, collided with the ground during maneuvering flight. The airplane was operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. A flight plan was not filed for the other work use flight. The pilot was seriously injured and the airplane received substantial damage. Origination of the flight was Charleston, South Carolina, at an unspecified time, on the same day.
Witnesses observed the airplane collide with the ground while maneuvering at a low altitude. It was reported that the pilot had received a briefing, earlier in the day, from Anderson Flight Service Station, for a photographic flight from Clemson to Charleston. The airplane was based at Clemson, South Carolina.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5812A
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28412
- Engine
- Continental O-300-D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Steele, William B.
- Registered owner
- Timberland Management Assoc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 19, 1992
- Departed
- Harleyville, SC
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
- 28
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 213 total · 86 in this make and model · 174 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AND, 15 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.