# NTSB ATL97LA081: Cessna 172I, N5124G, N. Myrtle Beach, SC, June 5, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 5, 1997, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: N. Myrtle Beach, SC
- Coordinates: 33.69062, -78.889617 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6906&lon=-78.8896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3854
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA081
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3854/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA081

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate pre-flight inspection which resulted in fuel exhaustion and total loss of engine power. A factor was the soft terrain at the emergency landing site.

## 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)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency landing
- Gear collapsed, emergency landing
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
- Nose over, emergency landing

## Analysis

While in cruise flight, the engine quit. A forced landing was made to a soft field resulting in the collapse of the nose landing gear and the airplane nosing over onto its back. The pilot reported that he did not check the fuel quantity in the airplane prior to departing for the flight.

## Factual narrative

On June 5, 1997, about 1830 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172I, N5124G, collapsed the nose landing gear and nosed over during an emergency landing near North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The airplane was operated by the Shell Aviation Services, Inc., under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. A flight plan was not filed for the business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There were no injuries to the commercial pilot, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was the Horry County Airport, Conway, South Carolina, at an undetermined time, on the same date.

According to the FAA inspector who visited the accident site, the pilot reported that the airplane's fuel supply was exhausted, resulting in a loss of engine power, forced landing, and subsequent damage to the airplane. The inspector reported that the pilot stated he did not check the fuel quantity in the airplane prior to beginning the flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5124G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5124G-2013-06-27), registration cancelled 2013-06-27, S/N 17257021, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172I
- Registry model: [Cessna 172I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172i) (registry code 2072426) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17257021
- Airframe hours: 9671
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James M. Eaves
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 1996
- Departed: HYW, CONWAY, SC
- Destination: CRE
- Airport: CRE, Grand Strand, runway 5, 5,996 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 420 total, 105 in this make and model, 340 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRE, 8 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 19970605013419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970605013419A), Jun 5, 1997: Cessna 172I, North Myrtle Be, SC, Substantial damage. Exhuasted fuel enroute. Failed to check fuel prior to trip. Nosed over landing in rough terrain. (-23) the pilot-in-command, who was the only occupant of the…

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.