Cessna 172H N8226L accident, Red Wing, MN, Jul 24, 2003 · NTSB CHI03LA223

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to follow the checklist resulting in fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power.

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.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalTakeoff - initial climb

Checklist - not followedPilot in commandCause

Fluid,fuel - starvationCause

Fuel management - improperPilot in commandCause

Forced landingEmergency landing after takeoff

In flight collision with objectEmergency landing after takeoff

Object - antenna

In flight collision with terrain/waterEmergency landing after takeoff

Terrain condition - grass

Analysis

The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with a localizer antenna and terrain during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power on initial climb. An examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel selector valve handle was set to the right fuel tank. The right fuel tank was empty. The left fuel tank contained about five gallons of fuel. There was no sign of a fuel spill at the scene. The engine produced a thumb compression at all cylinders. Both magnetos sparked. Removed spark plugs exhibited a light gray color. The engine was not test run. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions during the flight. A checklist from the airplane stated, "BEFORE TAKE OFF ... Fuel Selector Valve Handle - BOTH."

Factual narrative

On July 24, 2003, about 1110 central daylight time, a Cessna 172H, N8226L, piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with a localizer antenna during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power on initial climb out from runway 9 at Red Wing Regional Airport (RGK), near Red Wing, Minnesota. The solo instructional flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated from RGK about 1030 and was performing touch and goes at the time of the accident.

The student pilot stated:

I was doing touch [and] go's. I was taking off for my third touch

[and] go when about 100 ft off the ground the engine sputtered. I

pulled the throttle back a notch and it started going again so I slowly

pushed the throttle back in [and] it died. So I decided to land the

plane off of the end of the runway. I descended then realized the

localizer antenna was ahead of me. So then I tried to land on the

other side of it but was afraid of stalling so then I hit the antenna

[and] all three wheels touched but the antenna broke the left wheel

[and] the nose went into the ground. The windshield broke [and] I

came to a stop. ... I departed Red Wing about 10:30 a.m. [and] was

up about 1/2 hour when the engine failure occurred.

A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the wreckage. He found the fuel selector valve handle set to the right fuel tank. The right fuel tank was empty. The left fuel tank contained about five gallons of fuel. There was no sign of a fuel spill at the scene. The engine produced a thumb compression at all cylinders. Both magnetos sparked. Removed spark plugs exhibited a light gray color. The engine was not test run.

The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions during the flight.

A checklist from the airplane stated, "BEFORE TAKE OFF ... Fuel Selector Valve Handle - BOTH."

Aircraft

Registration: N8226L
Reported as: Cessna 172H
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 17256426
Engine: Continental O-300, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner: Michael R. Hoeft
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: Annual · November 1, 2002 · 157 hours before
Departed: RGK · Red Wing, MN
Destination: RGK · Red Wing, MN
Airport: RGK · Red Wing Muni, runway 9, 5,010 × 100 ft, asphalt

N8226LRegistration cancelled Apr 10, 2007 · Cessna 172HS/N 17256426 · Built 1967 Airframe modelCessna 172H Engine modelContinental 0-300 seriesReciprocating

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: Student pilot
Age: 18
Injuries: None
Certificate: Student
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 36 total · 36 in this make and model · 8 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 210° at 7 knots
Visibility: 10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
Observed at: RGK, 1 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.

Accident 20030724016549ACessna 172H · Red Wing, MN(-23) On July 24, 2003, at 1110 CDT, a Cessna 172 owned by michael hoeft (and co-owners) and operated by drew deleon experienced a loss of power and crashed off the departure end of runway 9 at the Red Wing regional airport on a solo instructional flight. VFR…Jul 24, 2003 · N8226L · Substantial damage

Other investigations on N8226L · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

NTSB ATL93LA053Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPalmetto, GAThe pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and his improper recovery from a bounced landing. A factor was the pilot's lack of total experience in the airplane.Jan 16, 1993 · Substantial damage