# NTSB CHI93LA339: Cessna 172L, N25BK, Curryville, MO, August 27, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 1993, 20:00 local (Aug 27, 1993, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Curryville, MO - Coordinates: 39.340705, -91.340019 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3407&lon=-91.3400&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 20, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9295 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA339 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9295/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA339 ## Probable cause IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PROCEDURES BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. ## 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 - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - utility pole ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED HE ADDED 12 GALLONS OF FUEL TO THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO DEPARTING ON THE TRIP BEWTEEN OMAHA, NEBRASKA, AND ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 HOURS INTO THE FLIGHT THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THE PILOT STATED HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE ON A ROAD AND, DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT, THE RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH A UTILITY POLE. THE RIGHT WING SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE AT THE WING STRUT ATTACH POINT. THE AIRPLANE'S FINAL RESTING PLACE WAS A FIELD ADJACENT TO THE ROAD. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT CHECK THE FUEL TANKS OR FUEL GUAGES PRIOR TO DEPARTING OMAHA, NEBRASKA. ## Factual narrative On August 26, 1993, at 2000 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 172L, N25BK, registered to Wings Aviation, Incorporated, of St. Louis, Missouri, and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with a telephone pole while executing a forced landing on a road following an engine failure during cruise flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operated under a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed Omaha, Nebraska, at 1730 CDT. The pilot stated he had been enroute from Omaha, Nebraska, to St. Louis, Missouri, for approximately 2 1/2 hours when the engine stopped running. He stated he attempted to glide the airplane to a nearby airport but realized the airplane could not reach it. He said he landed N25BK on a small road and, during the landing rollout, the right wing collided with a utility pole. The airplane's final resting position was a field adjacent to the road N25BK had landed on. During an interview with an FAA Principal Operations Inspector (POI) the pilot stated he had departed Omaha, Nebraska, with approximately 36 gallons of fuel on board the airplane. According to the POI's statement, the pilot said he did not visually check the fuel tanks or look at the fuel gauges prior to departing Omaha, Nebraska. The on-scene investigation revealed N25BK's fuel tanks were empty. No fuel stains were observed on the airplane's wings in the proximity of the fuel cap locations. No fuel stains were observed elsewhere on the airframe according to the Federal Aviation Administration s (FAA) Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI) assisting with the investigation. The PMI stated he drained approximately six ounces of fuel from the fuel strainer and it did not appear contaminated. The right wing separated from the airframe at the wing strut attach point. The right wing inboard section, wing root to wing strut attach point, was bent downward approximately 30 degrees. This section of the right wing was found angled back about 30 degrees from its normal position. The left wing tip was bent upward at an approximate 20 degree angle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25BK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25BK-1996-03-07), registration cancelled 1996-03-07, S/N 17259782 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17259782 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wings Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Wings Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: 3NO, OMAHA, NE - Destination: MO50, WENTZVILLE, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 198 total, 106 in this make and model, 153 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: UIND, 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 19930826052699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930826052699A), Aug 26, 1993: Cessna 172L, Curryville, MO, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Landed on a road. Wing hit utility pole. Fuel tanks empty. Failed check fuel prior takeoff. 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.