# NTSB ATL94LA004: Cessna 172, N12657, Blountville, TN, October 12, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 11, 1993, 20:50 local (Oct 12, 1993, 00:50 UTC) - Place: Blountville, TN - Coordinates: 36.530509, -82.319564 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5305&lon=-82.3196&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3317 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3317/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA004 ## Probable cause IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN INADEQUATE FUEL AND 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 - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Ditching, landing - terrain condition - water ## Analysis WHILE RECEIVING RADAR VECTORS FOR AN IFR APPROACH TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED. THE ENGINE QUIT APPROXIMATELY SIX MILES FROM THE RUNWAY, AND FIVE HOURS AND TEN MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE IN A NEARBY LAKE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE MAXIMUM FUEL ENDURANCE FOR THIS AIRPLANE WAS FIVE HOURS; NO REFUELING STOPS WERE PLANNED OR MADE ON THIS FLIGHT. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED BY THE PILOT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. ## Factual narrative On October 11, 1993, at 2050 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N12657, ditched into Boone Lake about one-half mile short of the Tri-City Regional Airport, Blountville, Tennessee. The personal flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 with a valid instrument flight clearance. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private rated pilot was not injured. The flight departed Allentown, Pennsylvania, at approximately 1545. According to the pilot, after takeoff, the instrument flight was cleared to a cruise altitude of 10,000 feet. Weather conditions forced the flight to change altitude. As the flight approached the destination airport, the flight was cleared to descend to 3500 feet. Upon establishing radio contact with Tri-City Approach Control, the flight was issued radar vectors for the ILS Runway 5 approach. Approximately six miles from the runway, and five hours and ten minutes into the flight, the engine quit. The pilot selected a forced landing area at Boone Lake; he subsequently ditched the airplane into the lake. The pilot also stated that the maximum fuel endurance for this airplane is about five hours, and he failed to plan an additional fuel stop. No mechanical problems were reported by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N12657](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N12657), registered now, S/N 17262152, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17262152 - Airframe hours: 5038 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sinclair, Ronald M. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 1993, 14 hours before - Departed: 1N9, ALLENTOWN, PA - Destination: TRI - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 551 total, 495 in this make and model, 527 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TRI, 2 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 19931011038429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931011038429A), Oct 11, 1993: Cessna 172M, Bristol-Johnson, TN, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on ILS approach. Ditched in a lake. Failed to have proper fuel reserve. ## Other investigations on N12657 (1) 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. - [NTSB IAD76DID42](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD76DID42), Sep 11, 1976: Cessna 172M (N12657), Lowmoor, VA, substantial damage 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.