# NTSB ATL95LA137: Cessna 172D, N3744S, Stanton, TN, July 15, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 1995, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Stanton, TN - Coordinates: 35.459697, -89.400123 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4597&lon=-89.4001&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3597 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3597/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA137 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT BECAME LOST/DISORIENTATED, AND HIGH VEGETATION IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. ## 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 - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) ## Analysis WHILE ON THE RETURN FLIGHT, THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED AND DECIDED TO CHANGE HIS DESTINATION. CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF FUEL REMAINING, THE PILOT DECIDED TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER LANDING SITE, AS HE MANEUVERED FOR THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING TO A DIRT RACE TRACK, AND DURING THE ROLLOUT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THICK BRUSH AND NOSED OVER. NO AIRCRAFT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED BY THE PILOT. A REVIEW OF THE RENTAL DOCUMENTS REVEALED THAT THE PILOT HAD FLOWN 3.7 HOURS WITHOUT REFUELING. THE NORMAL FUEL ENDURANCE FOR THIS AIRCRAFT IS APPROXIMATELY 4 FLIGHT HOURS. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 1995, at 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 172D, N3744S, collided with thick bushes nosed over during the rollout phase of a forced landing near Stanton, Tennessee. The personal flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the pilot received minor injuries, and the passenger received serious injuries. The flight departed Somerville, Tennessee, at 1130 hours. The pilot reported that the airplane was topped off with 32 1/2 gallons of aviation fuel before he departed Somerville. After about three hours of local flying, the pilot returned to Somerville. Upon arriving back in the vicinity of the destination airport, the pilot noticed that he was low on fuel. The pilot also became disoriented, and could not locate the destination airport; the pilot decided to divert to an airport that he was familiar. While enroute to the new destination, the pilot again became concern about this fuel situation and decided to make a precautionary landing. Before a precautionary landing could be made, the engine quit. The pilot selected a dirt race track and made an emergency landing. During the rollout, the airplane collided with thick bushes, and nosed over. During the on site examination of the aircraft, two quarts of fuel were recovered from the fuel system. The review of the aircraft rental checkout documents disclosed that the pilot had flown 3.7 hours since his initial departure. The airplane has a normal fuel endurance of approximately four hours. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3744S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3744S-2017-04-07), registration cancelled 2017-04-07, S/N 17250944, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172D - Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17250944 - Airframe hours: 3003 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Adventure Air Inc., - Registered owner: Flightlease Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 14, 1995, 102 hours before - Departed: FYE, SOMERVILLE, TN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 75 total, 10 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MEM, 45 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 19950715048699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950715048699A), Jul 15, 1995: Cessna 172E, Stanton, TN, Substantial damage. (-16) Pilot could not locate destination airport following a 3.3 hr cross country flight and exhausted aircraft fuel supply. Pilot did not use available navid… ## Other investigations on N3744S (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 MIA65D0049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA65D0049), Apr 8, 1965: Cessna 172 (N3744S), Anderson, SC, 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.