# NTSB ATL98TA054: Cessna 172, N54634, Arcadia, FL, March 13, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: March 13, 1998, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Arcadia, FL - Coordinates: 27.210037, -81.849052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2100&lon=-81.8491&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 4012 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL98TA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4012/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98TA054 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate pre-flight and in-flight planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of power. Trees and rough/uneven terrain are contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that, during his preflight inspection, he did not recall making a visual check of the fuel quantity in the fuel tanks. The flight departed en route to inspect eagles' nests for the state game and fish commission. As the flight approached a nest for inspection, the engine lost power. Attempts by the pilot to restart the engine, failed. The pilot selected an emergency landing area. The airplane collided with an orange tree during the approach to land. According to the pilot, the forced landing area was rough and uneven. An examination of the airplane at the accident site disclosed that there was no fuel in either fuel tank. The wreckage examination also failed to disclose any obvious mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 1998, at 0920 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172, N54634, collided with a tree and a fence, according to the pilot, during an emergency landing near Arcadia, Florida. The aerial survey flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. According to the pilot, visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The air transport rated pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Arcadia Airport in Arcadia, Florida, at 0920. According to the pilot, on the day of the accident he arrived at the Lakeland Airport and completed a preflight inspection of the airplane and prepared the airplane's, navigational system for the flight. Way points (eagle nests positions) were programmed into the navigational radios for the mission. The pilot said that, there were two full fuel indications on the gauges when he turned on the aircraft master switch. The pilot also stated that, he always made a visual check of the fuel in the tanks, but during this preflight inspection, he did not recall making a visual check of the fuel quantity in the fuel tanks. When the passenger arrived, the flight departed Lakeland, Florida enroute to Arcadia, Florida, and to inspect eagles' nests for the Florida Game and Fish Commission. After departing Lakeland, the pilot flew to the southern way points enroute to Arcadia. At 0915, the flight departed Arcadia, enroute to additional way points. As the flight descended for an approach to another nest, the pilot reported that the engine lost power. Attempts by the pilot to restart the engine, failed. The pilot selected an emergency landing area. The airplane collided with an orange tree during the approach to land. According to the pilot, the forced landing area was rough and uneven. An examination of the airplane at the accident site disclosed that there was no fuel in either fuel tank. The wreckage examination also failed to disclose any obvious mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54634](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54634), registered now, S/N 17275017, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275017 - Airframe hours: 8529 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-03J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Registered owner: Florida Game And Fresh Water - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 30, 1997, 95 hours before - Destination: FMY, FT MYERS, FL - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,500 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 720 as pilot in command, 152 in the last 90 days, 68 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PGD ## 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 19980313006799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980313006799A), Mar 13, 1998: Cessna 172P, Arcadia, FL, Substantial damage. Reported power loss on climbout. Collided with tree and fence on forced landing. (.4) on March 13, 1998, at 0920, eastern standard time, a Cessna 172, N54634,… 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.