# NTSB ATL96LA060: Cessna 172D, N2681U, Macon, GA, March 9, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 9, 1996, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Macon, GA - Coordinates: 32.799079, -83.689521 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7991&lon=-83.6895&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 11, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3702 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL96LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3702/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA060 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot stated the engine lost power about 1/2 mile from the destination airport. An emergency landing was made, which resulted in a collision with a ditch, then a nose over. Postaccident examination of the airplane indicated that there was no fuel in the left main fuel tank and only 1.5 gallons of fuel in the right tank. ## Factual narrative On March 9, 1996 about 1215 eastern standard time, a Cessna172D, N2681U, collided with the ground while on final approach to Middle Georgia Regional Airport, Macon, Georgia. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, A visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airline transport pilot and his passenger were not injured, and the aircraft was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Origination of the flight was Venice Municipal Airport, Venice, Florida about 0825. The aircraft was topped off at the Venice Municipal Airport, with a total of 36 gallons usable fuel on board. The cruise performance data for this airplane, flying at 2500 feet MSL and 2400 RPM, shows that the airplane would operate approximately four hours and forty minutes. Three hours and fifty minutes into the flight, on final approach into Middle Georgia Regional Airport, the engine power was lost about 1/4 mile from runway 05. At that point, the pilot notified the tower that he had run out of fuel and was not going to make it. He selected a forced landing area and attempted to land. During the forced landing roll, the airplane collided with a ditch and nosed over. During the post accident examination, no fuel was found in the left fuel tank, and 1.5 gallons of fuel was found in the right fuel tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2681U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2681U), registered now, S/N 17250281, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172D - Registry model: [Cessna 172D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172d) (registry code 2072410) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17250281 - Airframe hours: 3494 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jerome P Clark - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 29, 1995, 47 hours before - Departed: VNC, VENICE, FL - Destination: MCN - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: MCN, Middle Georgia Regional, runway 5, 5,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,411 total, 2,307 in this make and model, 2,301 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MCN, 1 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 19960309003729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960309003729A), Mar 9, 1996: Cessna 172D, Macon, GA, Substantial damage. Aircraft ran out of fuel 1 mile short of runway, crashed landed in a field.(.4)the pilot stated the engine lost power about 1/2 mile from the destination… 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.