- Date
- June 15, 2003, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Gridley, IL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N20553Cessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-Springfield FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030615012189A
- Case key
- 57228
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The checklist not followed by the pilot and the fuel starvation of the engine. The incorrect fuel tank selector position by the pilot,, and the lack of recurrent training were contributing factors.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during an emergency landing following a loss of engine power on takeoff. The pilot reported he did not have the fuel valve in the proper position during takeoff. The pilot stated he turned to the left to avoid landing in a ditch, after the engine failed during initial climb. The pilot's last biennial flight review was June 6, 1997.
Factual narrative
On June 15, 2003, at 1830 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N20553, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain after takeoff from runway 36 (2,200 feet by 70 feet, turf) at Kuntz Field Airport, Gridley, Illinois. The pilot reported leaving the fuel selector switch in the off position prior to takeoff. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported he "did not have the fuel valve in the proper position on takeoff." The pilot stated he turned to the left to avoid landing in a ditch, after the engine failed during intial climb. The airplane landed in a field and subsequently nosed over.
According to the pilot's written statement, his last biennial flight review was June 6, 1997.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N20553
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172C1388
- Airframe hours
- 2,798.3
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2W, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kuntz Trucking Company
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 13, 2002 · 40 hours before
- Departed
- IS64 · Gridley, IL
- Destination
- IS64
- Airport
- IS64 · Kuntz Field Airport, runway 36, 2,200 × 70 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 73
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- June 28, 1997
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 302 total · 302 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- BMI, 14 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.