# NTSB CHI03LA105: Cessna 172H, N3831R, Holt, MO, April 12, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 12, 2003, 18:57 local (23:57 UTC) - Place: Holt, MO - Coordinates: 39.42889, -94.368888 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4289&lon=-94.3689&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Cessna Aircraft Company, Federal Aviation Administration - Kansas City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56874 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56874/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA105 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor to the accident were the trees. ## 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 - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - powerplant - failure (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis During takeoff after a touch and go, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and impacted trees off the end of the runway. A witness stated the airplane rotated and climbed to approximately 50 feet when the engine lost power "with no backfire, miss, etc." The witness reported the airplane pitched down to "level flight and [approximately] 60 degree left bank was initiated." The pilot reported that he has no recollection of the accident flight. However, on the NTSB accident form, the pilot reported there was no mechanical malfunction or failure. Subsequent to the accident, no fuel was drained from either of the wing fuel tank sumps. No fuel was drained from the fuel strainer, however it was defective and did not allow fuel to be drained. A visual check of the fuel tanks revealed no fuel in the right tank and approximately 1 inch of fuel in the left tank at the filler neck opening. No anomalies were found with the engine that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. ## Factual narrative On April 12, 2003, at 1857 central daylight time, a Cessna 172H, N3831R, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during takeoff near Holt, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported serious injuries. The local flight departed the Block Air Village Airport (MO71), Holt, Missouri, at 1845. According to the pilot's written statement, the purpose of the flight was to circle the airport to warm the engine prior to an oil change. The pilot reported that he has no recollection of the accident flight. However, on the NTSB accident form, the pilot reported there was no mechanical malfunction or failure. The pilot stated the airplane had 8.0 gallons of fuel prior to the accident flight. The fuel was a 50/50 mix of automobile fuel and aviation 100-low lead fuel. A witness to the accident reported the airplane had circled the airport and then entered a left downwind for the southeast grass runway. The witness stated the airplane landed longer than normal, and then he heard the engine power increase for a "touch & go." The witness stated the airplane rotated and climbed to approximately 50 feet when the engine lost power "with no backfire, miss, etc." The witness reported the airplane pitched down to "level flight and [approximately] 60 degree left bank was initiated." The witness stated that the airplane impacted trees off the left end of the runway. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration performed the on-scene investigation. The inspector reported the airplane was resting in a "slight nose down, right wing low attitude." The fuel selector was positioned on "Both." No fuel drained from either of the wing fuel tank sumps. No fuel drained from the fuel strainer, however it was defective and did not allow fuel to be drained. A visual check of the fuel tanks revealed no fuel in the right tank and approximately one inch of fuel in the left tank at the filler neck opening. No anomalies were found with the engine that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. The FAA and the Cessna Aircraft Company were parties to the investigation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3831R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3831R-2004-02-02), registration cancelled 2004-02-02, S/N 17255331, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172H - Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 55331 - Airframe hours: 6077 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James Hugh Pickett - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2002, 56 hours before - Departed: MO71, Holt, MO - Destination: MO71, MO - Airport: MO71, Block Air Village Airport, runway 17, 1,700 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 8, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,931 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,767 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: MCI, 17 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 20030412009949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030412009949A), Apr 12, 2003: Cessna 172H, Holt, MO, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft was attempting a touch and go on runway 16/34 at MO71. After lift off, the engine lost power. The pilot executed a left turn in an attempt to… ## Other investigations on N3831R (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 MIA72DLD49](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72DLD49), Feb 19, 1972: Cessna 172 (N3831R), Sebring, FL, substantial damage 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.