# NTSB CEN14CA027: Cessna 172M, N20587, Raymondville, TX, October 25, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 25, 2013, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Raymondville, TX - Coordinates: 26.481388, -97.783058 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4814&lon=-97.7831&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 3, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 88339 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88339/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88339 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA027 ## Probable cause The operation of an airplane by a non-certificated pilot. Contributing to the accident was his failure to maintain airspeed following a total loss of engine power at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Also contributing was the pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2072418), [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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/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); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot said he flew his unregistered airplane for about 2 hours "recreationally" before attempting to land at a privately owned airport, where he said the airplane was scheduled to have an annual inspection completed. The pilot said a gust of wind blew the airplane off course while on final approach and he attempted to go-around. The airplane then stalled and impacted a field short of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall and empennage. Though the pilot did not report an engine failure, examination of the airplane revealed both fuel tanks were empty and damage to the propeller was consistent with it not turning at the time of impact. The pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane and engine. The pilot did not have a valid Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical and had a reported history of a stroke. The pilot's daughter also reported that her father was starting to show symptoms of Sundowner's Syndrome. ## Factual narrative The non-certificated pilot said he flew his unregistered airplane for about 2 hours "recreationally" before attempting to land at a privately owned airport, where he said the airplane was scheduled to have an annual inspection completed. The pilot said a gust of wind blew the airplane off course while on final approach and he attempted to go-around. The airplane then stalled and impacted a field short of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall and empennage. Though the pilot did not report an engine failure, examination of the airplane revealed both fuel tanks were empty and damage to the propeller was consistent with it not turning at the time of impact. The pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane and engine. The pilot did not have a valid Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical and had a reported history of a stroke. The pilot's daughter also reported that her father was starting to show symptoms of Sundowner's Syndrome. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20587](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20587-2018-02-12), registration cancelled 2018-02-12, S/N 17261419, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M (M) - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17261419 - Year built: 1973 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hernandez Cesar - Registered owner: Hernandez Cesar - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 67R, Rio Grande City, TX - Destination: XS56, Raymondville, TX - Airport: XS56, Bell Airfield, runway 08, 3,000 × 85 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: serious; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 8 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 18 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: HRL, 15 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 20131025020559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131025020559A), Oct 25, 2013: Cessna 172M, Raymondville, TX, Substantial damage. On approximately 1/4 mile final approach to bell airfield (XS56), the airplane lost power due to fuel exhaustion. Airplane landed in a plowed field, nose wheel… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 18, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88339. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405540&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Record of Conversation with the pilot (item 2, .PDF, 320 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405541&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20the%20pilot-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation w/FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405801&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20w%2FFAA%20Inspector-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.