# NTSB CEN19CA239: Cessna 172, N79575, Oshkosh, WI, July 28, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 28, 2019, 16:32 local (21:32 UTC) - Place: Oshkosh, WI - Coordinates: 43.954723, -88.664169 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9547&lon=-88.6642&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99944 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19CA239 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99944/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99944 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19CA239 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel planning and decision to not divert to a closer airport when the planned flight profile changed, 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. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting the return leg of a cross-country flight. He reported that the airplane was full of fuel before he departed on the first leg of the trip, the duration of which he did not provide. The pilot also reported that he was concerned with the weather at his destination and did not add fuel before departing on the accident flight to expedite his return. He had planned the flight at 7,000 ft mean sea level and felt there was enough fuel onboard at that altitude. After about 1 hour of flight, an air traffic controller directed the pilot to climb to 9,000 ft and rerouted the flight. The pilot stated he became concerned with the fuel level at that time due to the climb and change in wind, but he chose to continue to his destination. About 30 minutes later and 20 miles short of the intended destination, the engine lost all power due to fuel exhaustion, and the pilot subsequently conducted an emergency landing in a field. At no time during the flight did the pilot express his concerns about the lack of fuel onboard to the controller, request a diversion to a closer airport, or declare an emergency. The elevator sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot was conducting the return leg of a cross country flight when the engine lost power and the pilot subsequently performed an emergency landing in a field. The airplane elevator was substantially damaged during the landing. The pilot reported the airplane was full of fuel prior to departing on the first leg of the trip, the duration of which was not provided by the pilot. The pilot also reported he was concerned with the weather at his destination and did not add fuel prior to departing on the accident flight to expedite his return. He had planned the flight at 7k ft mean sea level and felt he had enough fuel onboard at that altitude. After about 1 hr of flight, air traffic control (ATC) directed him to climb to 9k ft and rerouted the flight. The pilot stated he became concerned with his fuel at that time due to the climb and change in wind, but elected to continue to his destination. The engine quit due to fuel exhaustion about 30 minutes later and 20 miles short of the intended destination. At no time during the flight did the pilot express his concerns about the lack of fuel onboard to ATC, request a diversion to a closer airport, or declare an emergency. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N79575](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N79575), registered now, S/N 17258188, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (K) - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17258188 - Year built: 1969 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Fox Valley Flyers Inc - Registered owner: Fox Valley Flyers Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: IOW, Iowa City, IA - Destination: ATW, Appleton, WI - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 427 total, 116 in this make and model, 51 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Observed at: osh ## 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 20190728014919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190728014919A), Jul 28, 2019: Cessna 172K, Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. On July 28, 2019 at 1600 CST, a Cessna 172 N79575 piloted by a commercial pilot was substantially damaged after landing in a field near Oshkosh WI after the… ## Other investigations on N79575 (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 MIA72DKJ44](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72DKJ44), Mar 16, 1972: Cessna 172K (N79575), Dothan, AL, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 29, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99944. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475319&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475320&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-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.