# NTSB CHI06LA095: Cessna 172G, N4444L, Collins, MO, March 22, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 22, 2006, 12:57 local (18:57 UTC) - Place: Collins, MO - Coordinates: 37.881111, -93.661109 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8811&lon=-93.6611&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Kansas City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63712 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63712/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA095 ## Probable cause The pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations that resulted in fuel exhaustion, and the loss of engine power during cruise flight. An additional cause was the pilot's improper in-flight decision to continue when he believed his fuel gauges were erratic and unreliable. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - fence ## Analysis The pilot made a forced landing to a grass field following a loss of engine power during cruise flight. The airplane's tail section impacted a fencepost and barbed-wire during the forced landing. The pilot reported that the airplane had 34 gallons (31 gallons usable) of fuel prior to departure. The pilot visually confirmed that both fuel tanks were empty after the accident. The elapsed time between the first ATC communication, and when the pilot reported the loss of engine power was 3 hours, 57 minutes. According to the Cessna 172G owner's manual, the published fuel consumption rate at 7,500 feet msl and 70% brake horsepower (bhp) was 7.8 gallons/hour. The pilot reported that his preflight planning assumed a fuel consumption rate of 6.1 gallons/hour, at 7,000 feet msl and 2,300 engine rpm (52% bhp). The pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that the fuel quantity gauges had become "erratic" during the accident flight, and that he thought they were "unreliable." ## Factual narrative On March 22, 2006, at 1257 central standard time (cst), a Cessna 172G, N4444L, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Collins, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 while on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The pilot and his three passengers reported no injuries. The flight departed Joe Foss Field Airport (FSD), Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at 0903 cst, and was en route to Springfield-Branson Airport (SGF), Springfield, Missouri. The pilot reported that during cruise flight the engine lost power and he performed a forced landing to a grass field. The airplane's tail section impacted a fencepost and barbed-wire during the forced landing. The pilot reported that he visually confirmed that both fuel tanks were empty after the accident. The airplane's owner reported that the last time the airplane was fully fueled was on March 14, 2006, prior to a 36 minute flight. The airplane was not refueled prior to the accident flight. The pilot reported that the airplane had 34 gallons (31 gallons usable) on-board prior to the accident flight. At 0857 cst, the pilot requested taxi and IFR clearances from FSD air traffic control (ATC). At 0903 cst, the pilot was cleared for takeoff and was subsequently cleared to 7,000 feet mean sea level (msl). At 1254 cst, the pilot reported a loss of engine power and declared an emergency. The elapsed time between the first ATC communication and when the pilot reported the loss of engine power was 3 hours, 57 minutes. The calculated fuel consumption rate for the accident flight was 7.8 gallons/hour. According to the Cessna 172G owners manual, the published fuel consumption rate at 7,500 feet msl and 70% brake horsepower (bhp) was 7.8 gallons/hour. The pilot reported that his preflight planning assumed a fuel consumption rate of 6.1 gallons/hour, at 7,000 feet msl and 2,300 engine rpm (52% bhp). The pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that the fuel quantity gauges had become "erratic" during the accident flight and that he thought they were "unreliable." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4444L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4444L-2019-04-26), registration cancelled 2019-04-26, S/N 17254537 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172G - Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17254537 - Airframe hours: 7465.7 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2006 - Departed: FSD, Sioux Falls, SD - Destination: SGF, Springfield, MO - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 318 total, 215 in this make and model, 278 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: SGF, 35 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 20060322003819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060322003819A), Mar 22, 2006: Cessna 172G, Collins, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot and three pilot-rated passengers departed joe foss field (fsd), sioux falls, SD at 0904 CST on an IFR flight to springfield-branson regional… ## Other investigations on N4444L (2) 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 MKC74DTK03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC74DTK03), Aug 18, 1973: Cessna 172G (N4444L), Monroe, SD, substantial damage - [NTSB MKC71FDQ23](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC71FDQ23), Jan 13, 1971: Cessna 172 (N4444L), Sioux Falls, SD, 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.