# NTSB CHI94LA301: Cessna 172, N1106F, Whitehall, MI, August 27, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 1994, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Whitehall, MI - Coordinates: 43.390243, -86.34053 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3902&lon=-86.3405&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9657 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA301 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9657/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA301 ## Probable cause THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE SOFT CROP FIELD. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY. HE MADE AN INTERMEDIATE STOP WITHOUT REFUELING AND CONTINUED TOWARD HIS POINT OF ORIGIN WITH AN ESTIMATED 10 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING ON BOARD. AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR THE PILOT NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATED LOW. HE ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE TO THE CLOSEST AIRPORT, HIS FUEL WAS EXHAUSTED, AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO A CROP FIELD. DURING TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER, COMING TO REST INVERTED. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 1994, at 1500 hours eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N1106F, operated by John C. Amunsen of Dowagiac, Michigan, made a forced landing in a carrot field near Whitehall, Michigan, after experiencing a total loss of engine power. The airplane came to rest inverted and was substantially damaged. No fire occurred and the student pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a student solo cross country training flight and originated from Dowagiac Municipal Airport, Dowagiac, Michigan at 1115 eastern daylight time. An intermediate stop was made at Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City, Michigan, without refueling and the airplane was en route to Dowagiac via Muskegon, Michigan. The student pilot stated that he calculated distance in nautical miles. The pilot stated that en route to Muskegon he noticed his fuel gauges indicated low and he attempted to reach Muskegon County Airport. He stated that the fuel supply was exhausted, the engine lost power, and an emergency landing to a crop field was made. During touchdown, the nose wheel dug into the soft ground and the airplane flipped over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1106F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1106F-1997-04-09), registration cancelled 1997-04-09, S/N 17254701 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17254701 - Airframe hours: 7710 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: John C. Amunsen, doing business as Classic Air Services, Inc. - Registered owner: John C. Amunsen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 25, 1994, 10 hours before - Departed: TVC, TRAVERSE CITY, MI - Destination: MKG, MUSKEGON, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 55 total, 35 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MKG, 15 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 19940827023589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940827023589A), Aug 27, 1994: Cessna 172G, Whitehall, MI, Substantial damage. Student mismanaged and exhausted fuel resulting in off airport landing. ## Other investigations on N1106F (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 CHI96LA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA193), Jun 11, 1996: Cessna 172 (N1106F), Lowell, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: was inadequate initial training of the pilot and inadequate flight test procedures by the FAA Designated Pilot Examiner when he reportedly had the pilot demonstrate 12 pilot operations from the FAA's… - [NTSB LAX67D0410](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX67D0410), May 11, 1967: Cessna 172 (N1106F), Inyokern, CA, 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.