# NTSB CEN12LA094: Cessna 305A, N6735Q, Fredericksburg, TX, November 30, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 30, 2011, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Fredericksburg, TX - Coordinates: 30.243055, -98.909164 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2431&lon=-98.9092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82433 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82433/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82433 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA094 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a subsequent loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not inspected (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis While on approach to the runway, the pilot added power to the engine to adjust the approach path, and the engine did not respond. The pilot was unable to restart the engine, and he performed a forced landing to a nearby field. During the landing, the airplane struck a wire and then the ground. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that caps were present on the fuel tank vent lines, creating a vacuum and preventing fuel flow to the engine. The pilot said that he had placed the caps on the fuel vent lines to keep insects out of the lines and the fuel tanks and forgot to remove them during his preflight inspection. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On November 30, 2011, approximately 1115 central standard time, a Cessna 305A, N6735Q, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Gillespie County Airport (T82), Fredericksburg, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The flight departed New Braunfels, Texas, approximately 1030. While on approach to the runway the pilot added power to the engine to adjust his approach path and the engine did not respond. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and set up for a forced landing to a nearby field. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a wire and then the ground. The right main landing gear was bent, the firewall was wrinkled, and the fuselage adjacent to the right wing strut was buckled. Examination of the airplane revealed that caps were present on the fuel tank vent lines. When the caps were removed, pressure release and air movement could be heard from the tanks. The fuel tanks contained an adequate supply of fuel. No other mechanical anomalies, malfunctions, or failures were noted which would have contributed to the accident. The pilot reported that he had placed the caps on the fuel vent lines to keep insects out of the lines and the fuel tanks and forgot to remove them during his preflight inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6735Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6735Q), registered now, S/N 22658 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 305A - Registry model: [Cessna 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-305a) (registry code 2074002) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22658 - Airframe hours: 7100 - Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors O-47-11 213 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 20, 2011 - Departed: KBAZ, New Braunfels, TX - Destination: T82, Fredericksburg, TX - Airport: T82, Gillespie County Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 25, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 2,678 total, 381 in this make and model, 2,588 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KT82 ## 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 20111130028499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111130028499A), Nov 30, 2011: Cessna 305A, Fredericksburg, TX, Substantial damage. Engine did not respond when the throttle was advanced during landing pattern. During descent to an open field, the aircraft hit an electric wire and landed… ## Other investigations on N6735Q (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 MKC84LA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC84LA246), Aug 11, 1984: Cessna 305A (N6735Q), Blakesburg, IA, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 2, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82433. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361939&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Telephone Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361940&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF 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.