# NTSB ATL96LA112: Cessna 180, N3122C, Memphis, TN, July 22, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 1996, 18:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Memphis, TN - Location: 35.1495° N, 90.0490° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Memphis, TN, within about 10 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1495&lon=-90.0490&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3747 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL96LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3747/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA112 ## Probable cause Inadequate annual inspection that resulted in the in-flight loss of the fuel system strainer and subsequent fuel starvation. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, approach - fuel system,gascolator - not safetied (cause) - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - fuel system,gascolator - missing - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - fence - object - vehicle ## Analysis The pilot was cleared to land on runway 27 at Memphis International Airport. About 1-1/2 miles east of the airport the pilot reported a loss of engine power. The pilot made a forced landing in a parking lot and collided with an automobile and a fence before coming to rest. An inspection revealed that the gascolator was missing, and the required safetywire for the gascolator was not found. The last inspection of the engine was done during the annual inspection in July of 1995. The aircraft had been flown 86 hours since the annual inspection. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 1996, at 1810 central daylight time a Cessna 180, N3122C, collided with a parked automobile and a fence, and was substantially damaged following a forced landing near Memphis International Airport, Memphis, Tennessee. The airline transport pilot was not injured. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident, and a flight plan was not filed for the cross country flight. The flight departed Griffin-Spalding County Airport, Griffin, Georgia at 1630 eastern daylight time. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot was cleared to land on runway 27 at Memphis International Airport. About 1 1/2 miles to the east of the airport the pilot reported a loss of engine power. The pilot made a forced landing in a parking lot and collided with an automobile and a fence before coming to rest. The airplane received damage to the wings, fuselage, and right horizontal stabilizer. An inspection by the FAA inspector revealed that the gascolator was missing, and the required safetywire for the gascolator was not found. The last inspection of the engine was done during the annual inspection in July of 1995. The aircraft had been flown 86 hours since the annual inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3122C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3122C-2020-05-29), registration cancelled 2020-05-29, S/N 30921, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30921 - Airframe hours: 3000 - Engines: Continental O-470J 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stephen C. Fenner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1995, 86 hours before - Departed: 6A2, GRIFFIN, GA - Destination: MEM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MEM, 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 19960722019179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960722019179A), Jul 22, 1996: Cessna 180, Memphis, TN, Substantial damage. Engine quit on approach to airport, made an emergency landing in a parking lot. ## Other investigations on N3122C (3) 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 MIA80DLD07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA80DLD07), Nov 4, 1979: Cessna 180 (N3122C), Brooksville, FL, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X3660](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3660), Aug 29, 1964: Cessna 180 (N3122C), Aberdeen, MD, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X2662](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X2662), Jul 5, 1964: Cessna 180 (N3122C), Cockeysville, MD, 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.