- Date
- March 31, 2010, 07:10 local (12:10 UTC)
- Place
- Ankeny, IA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N883AVCessna 172N
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 12, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-Des Moines FSDO
- FAA report
- 20100331030329A
- Case key
- 75615
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel monitoring.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the cross-country flight proceeded normally until approximately 25 miles from the destination. At that time, the engine speed decreased unexpectedly. His attempts to increase engine power by pushing in the throttle had no effect. The pilot stated that he switched the fuel selector to the right tank and then to the left tank with no effect. He returned the fuel selector to the “both” setting and the engine regained power. The pilot then elected to immediately divert to the nearest airport; however, the engine lost power again and he executed a forced landing to a corn field. The airplane nosed over and was substantially damaged. A postaccident inspection did not reveal any anomalies associated with a preimpact engine failure or malfunction. No evidence of a fuel spill was observed at the accident site, and no fuel was observed in the fuel tanks after the accident.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that the cross-country flight proceeded normally until approximately 25 miles from the destination. At that time, the engine speed decreased unexpectedly. His attempts to increase engine power by pushing in the throttle had no effect. The pilot noted that he switched the fuel selector to the right tank and then to the left tank with no effect. He returned the fuel selector to the “both” setting and the engine regained power. He elected to immediately divert to the nearest airport. However, the engine lost power again and he ultimately executed a forced landing to a corn field. The airplane nosed over and was substantially damaged during the emergency landing. A post accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies associated with a pre-impact engine failure or malfunction. No evidence of a fuel spill was observed at the accident site, and no fuel was observed in the fuel tanks after the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N883AV
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17269352
- Airframe hours
- 14,507
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Rhinelander Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Rhinelander Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 2009
- Departed
- AUW · Wausau, WI
- Destination
- DSM · Des Moines, IA
- Airport
- IKV · Ankeny Regional
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 25, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 445 total · 434 in this make and model · 379 as pilot in command · 37 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.51 inHg
- Observed at
- IKV, 5 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 5, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 636 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.