# NTSB CHI07CA202: Cessna 172N, N738SV, Yorkville, IL, June 30, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 29, 2007, 21:31 local (Jun 30, 2007, 02:31 UTC)
- Place: Yorkville, IL
- Coordinates: 41.655555, -88.456108
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6556&lon=-88.4561&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66831
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA202
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66831/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA202

## Probable cause

The inadequate fuel consumption calculations by the pilot, the fuel exhaustion during cruise flight, and the unsuitable landing area encountered by the pilot.  Contributing factors were the night light conditions and trees.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ground
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The airplane impacted terrain during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power during cruise flight.  Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The pilot stated that when he had the destination airport in sight,  the left fuel gauge indicated empty and the right fuel gauge indicated "just below 1/4 tank."  The engine then lost power and he was unable to restart it.  The pilot executed a forced landing on a "dark spot" on the ground and airplane impacted trees.  Examination of the airplane fuel tanks revealed no usable fuel aboard.

## Factual narrative

The airplane impacted terrain during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power during cruise flight.  Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The pilot stated that when he had the destination airport in sight,  the left fuel gauge indicated empty and the right fuel gauge indicated "just below 1/4 tank."  The engine then quit and he was unable to restart it.  The pilot executed a forced landing on a "dark spot" on the ground and airplane impacted trees.  Examination of the airplane fuel tanks revealed no usable fuel aboard.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N738SV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N738SV-2009-02-02), registration cancelled 2009-02-02, S/N 17270209, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17270209
- Engines: Textron Lycoming O-320 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Noble Flight
- Registered owner: Noble Fox Enterprises Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: OLV, OLIVE BRANCH, MS
- Destination: ARR, CHICAGO/AURORA, IL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 648 total, 600 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night

## 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 20070629015899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070629015899A), Jun 29, 2007: Cessna 172N, Yorkville, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] departed from olive branch airport (kolv), olive branch, Mississippi, enroute to aurora municipal airport (karr), sugar…

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.

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