# NTSB BFO96LA041: Cessna 172D, N2315U, Rineyville, KY, January 28, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 28, 1996, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Rineyville, KY - Coordinates: 37.749343, -85.959419 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7493&lon=-85.9594&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9129 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO96LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9129/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO96LA041 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor 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, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - building(nonresidential) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that after he levelled the airplane off at his selected cruise altitude (2000 ft. MSL), the engine lost power. His attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. During the ensuing forced landing, the student pilot chose to '...Turn the aircraft right approximately 40 degrees due to [the] upsloping terrain,' to avoid a residential structure in the aircraft's path, The aircraft struck a carport approximately 300 feet from the initial touchdown point. Postaccident investigation of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomaly. ## Factual narrative On January 28, 1996, at 1630 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172D, N2315U, sustained substantial damage when it struck a carport while making an emergency landing in a residential area near Rineyville, Kentucky. The student pilot, the sole occupant, received no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed. The solo instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Vine Grove, Kentucky, at approximately 1625 eastern standard time. The intended destination was Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The student pilot reported that he departed Vine Grove and climbed to his intended cruise altitude of 2000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL). He stated that he "...observed [a] loss of [engine power] from 2300 RPM cruise setting to approximately 1500 RPM...continued to decay after carburetor heat was fully applied." The student pilot reported that moments later, the engine lost power completely, so he began emergency procedures and set up for an emergency landing. The student pilot stated that his attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The student pilot stated that during the emergency descent, "...with the propeller windmilling, [the] engine caught and ran momentarily...but never developed full power." The student pilot reported that "...initial touchdown was made without incident...no damage to [the] aircraft." He stated that he became concerned that he wouldn't be able to stop the aircraft before it reached a residential structure which was "...approximately 400 feet from initial touchdown point." He stated that he chose to "...turn the aircraft right approximately 40 degrees due to upsloping terrain." The aircraft impacted a carport approximately 300 feet after the initial touchdown point. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector reported that the initial postaccident inspection revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomaly. He noted that there was fuel present throughout the fuel system. A replacement propeller was installed on the engine for an engine run up. The FAA Inspector stated that the engine was started, ran normally at idle power setting, and accelerated to 2300 RPM with no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The FAA Inspector's statements are appended. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2315U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2315U-2014-09-16), registration cancelled 2014-09-16, S/N 17249915, built 1962 (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: 17249915 - Airframe hours: 7543 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vine Grove Airport Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 24, 1995, 24 hours before - Departed: KY70, VINE GROVE, KY - Destination: EKX, ELIZABETHTOWN, KY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 43 total, 43 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 39 °F ## 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 19960128000989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960128000989A), Jan 28, 1996: Cessna 172D, Pineyville, KY, Substantial damage. Engine running rough, made emergency landing in a residential area. ## Other investigations on N2315U (1) 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 IAD75DLQ13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD75DLQ13), Jan 17, 1975: Cessna 172 (N2315U), Albany, KY, 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.