# NTSB CHI00LA114: Cessna 404, N26SA, Lansing, MI, April 15, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 15, 2000, 07:43 local (11:43 UTC) - Place: Lansing, MI - Location: 42.7325° N, 84.5555° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lansing, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7325&lon=-84.5555&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48974 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48974/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA114 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to improper fuel. Also causal was the improper aircraft service by the fixed base operator personnel and the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing encountered by the pilot. Factors were the improper grade of fuel and the lack of suitable terrain for the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel grade - improper (contributing factor) - aircraft service - improper, fbo personnel (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was departing from Lansing, Michigan, when he reported engine problems. The aircraft subsequently lost power to both engines. Fuel receipts were found that indicate that the aircraft was serviced with 25 gallons of jet fuel in each wing tank. No preexisting anomalies were found with regard to the aircraft or its systems. An FAA inspector interviewed the person that had fueled the aircraft and that person stated he had used a JET-A fuel truck to fuel the accident aircraft. The inspector also interviewed the safety director of the company that provided the fueling service. The safety director told the inspector that the fuel truck used to fuel the accident aircraft was found to have a small nozzle installed on one of the hoses and not the wide nozzle used on jet fueling trucks. He also said that, '...the small nozzle was used for the purpose of fueling tugs at the airport and that the small nozzles were immediately removed from all jet refueling trucks so that this could not happen again.' ## Factual narrative On April 15, 2000, at 0743 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 404, N26SA, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during an off airport forced landing following a loss of power on both engines, after takeoff from the Capital City Airport, Lansing, Michigan. The cargo flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135 and was on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Caro, Michigan. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted a postaccident examination of the aircraft. Fuel receipts were found that indicate that the aircraft was serviced with 25 gallons of jet fuel in each wing tank. No preexisting anomalies were found with regard to the aircraft or its systems. A FAA inspector interviewed the person that had fueled the aircraft and that person admitted that he had used a JET-A fuel truck to fuel the accident aircraft. The inspector also interviewed the safety director of the company that provided the fueling service. The safety director told the inspector that the fuel truck used to fuel the accident aircraft was found to have a small nozzle installed on one of the hoses and not the wide nozzle used on jet fueling trucks. He also said that, "...the small nozzle was used for the purpose of fueling tugs at the airport and that the small nozzles were immediately removed from all jet refueling trucks so that this could not happen again." The FAA inspector had line services put equal amounts of JET-A and 100LL aviation gasoline in a container. According to the inspector's statement, "when JET-A and 100LL gas is mixed the blue color remains quite visible and the predominant smell is that of 100LL gas." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N26SA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26SA-2003-07-14), registration cancelled 2003-07-14, S/N 404-0225 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 404 - Registry model: [Cessna 404](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-404) (registry code 2075901) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 404-0225 - Airframe hours: 17393 - Engines: Continental GTSIO-520-M2 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Superior Aviation, Inc. - Last inspection: AAIP, March 24, 2000 - Departed: LAN - Destination: 78D, CARO, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LAN, Capital City Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,600 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,600 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LAN, 2 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 20000415036709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000415036709A), Apr 15, 2000: Cessna 404, Lansing, MI, No damage. (-23) FAR 135 scheduled cargo carrier. Both engines lost power shortly after takeoff. Pilot made a hard landing on a golf course. 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.