# NTSB ATL99LA119: Cessna 175, N7566M, Mountain City, TN, August 27, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 1999, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Mountain City, TN - Coordinates: 36.469459, -81.799674 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4695&lon=-81.7997&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 November 2, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47222 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47222/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA119 ## Probable cause A blocked fuel system vent that resulted in fuel starvation and the complete loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fuel system,vent - blocked(total) (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - fence ## Analysis The pilot reported that after completing a normal preflight inspection of the airplane, he rolled the airplane out of the hangar for the flight. A normal engine run-up was completed, and the initial takeoff to climb was also normal. Shortly after liftoff, the pilot reported a loss of engine power. The pilot selected a corn field on the departure end of the runway for an emergency landing. After landing in the field, the airplane collided with a fence and flipped inverted. The examination of the airplane and engine assembly failed to disclose a component failure. However, during the examination of the fuel system, a wasp nest was found in the fuel system vent. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 1999, at 1500 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 175, N7566M, collided with a fence during a forced landing in a corn field following a complete loss of engine power in Mountain City, Tennessee. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 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 private pilot received serious injuries, and his passenger received minor injuries. The flight initially departed Johnson County Airport in Mountain City, Tennessee, at 1455. The pilot reported that after completing a normal preflight of the airplane, he rolled the airplane out of the hangar for the flight. A normal engine run-up was completed, and the initial takeoff to climb was also normal. Shortly after liftoff from runway 24, the pilot reported a loss of engine power. The pilot selected a corn field on the departure end of runway 24 for an emergency landing. After landing in the field, the airplane collided with a fence and flipped inverted. The examination of the airplane and engine assembly failed to disclose a component failure. However, during the examination of the fuel system, a wasp nest was found in the fuel system vent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7566M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7566M-2017-06-07), registration cancelled 2017-06-07, S/N 55866, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 175 - Registry model: [Cessna 175](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175) (registry code 2072502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 55866 - Airframe hours: 3413 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roger M. Winebarger - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 1999, 20 hours before - Departed: 6A4 - Airport: A64, Johnson County Airport, runway 24, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 750 total, 750 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 4 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TRI, 30 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 19990827041729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990827041729A), Aug 27, 1999: Cessna 175, Mountain City, TN, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot reported that after completing a normal preflight inspection of the airplane, he rolled the airplane out of the hangar for the flight. A normal… 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.