# NTSB CHI95LA281: Cessna 172, N6146E, Wheeling, IL, August 16, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 1995, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Wheeling, IL - Coordinates: 42.12923, -87.919677 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1292&lon=-87.9197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9998 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA281 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9998/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA281 ## Probable cause inadequate preflight planning and preparation by the pilot and an inadverent stall encountered by the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Loss of control - in flight, emergency descent/landing - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane was observed by a flight instructor 'wallowing around' on final approach. He said the airplane stalled when it was about 80 feet above the ground. He said the airplane collided with trees during its uncontrolled descent following the stall. The witness said the propeller was not rotating and the airplane had 20 degrees of flaps extended. The pilot said the engine ran rough for a few moments when he was on final approach. He said it stopped running when he applied carburetor heat. The pilot said he had flown about 4 hours and 5 minutes after departing with full fuel tanks. Inspection of the airplane revealed the fuel tanks were empty. No fuel was found on the ground surrounding the airplane. Endurance for the airplane with full fuel ranges between 3.9 and 4.4 hours, depending upon the mixture setting. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 1995, at 1800 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 172, N6146E, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and terrain during a forced landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed Carmi, Illinois, exact time unknown. During a telephone interview the pilot said he was on final approach for runway 16 at the Palwaukee Airport, Wheeling, Illinois, when his engine stopped running. He said the engine ran rough for a few moments and quit when he applied carburetor heat. The pilot said he had flown about 4 hours and 5 minutes before the engine stopped running. The pilot said he dip-sticked both fuel tanks before refueling. He said he did not check the fuel level after the tanks were filled. The pilot said his cruising altitude between Carmi, Illinois, and Wheeling, Illinois, was 2,500 feet above mean sea level. He said he ran the engine at 2,450 RPM during the flight. According to the pilot, he had leaned the mixture for the flight. A flight instructor said he saw the airplane "wallowing around" on final approach for runway 16. The airplane had 20 degrees of flaps extended and its propeller was not turning, according to the witness. He said the airplane was about 80 feet above the ground when it pitched up and stalled. He said the airplane pitched down and collided with the trees shortly afterwards. According to the witness, the airplane cartwheeled after its wing collided with trees. The witness looked at the airplane a short time later. He said he looked into the fuel tanks and noted both were, "...bone dry... ." He said he did not see or smell fuel near the airplane. The Federal Aviation Administration Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI) said he did not observe fuel in the wing tanks. He said there was no fuel around the airplane. The PMI said there were no mechanical anomalies with the airframe, control system or engine that would prevent flight. Based on the pilot's stated cruise power setting, the airplane's endurance was calculated. The cruise performance chart for N6146E was supplied by the manufacturer. According to the "Cruise Performance With Rich Mixture" chart, the airplane's endurance would be about 3.9 hours. The "Cruise Performance With Lean Mixture" chart showed its endurance would be about 4.4 hours. The hourly figures do not take taxi, takeoff, and climb to cruise altitude into consideration. A copy of this chart is appended to the report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6146E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6146E), registered now, S/N 46246, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46246 - Airframe hours: 4500 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald G. Hill - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, January 31, 1994, 94 hours before - Departed: CUL, CARMI, IL - Destination: PWK - Airport: PWK, Palwaukee Municipal Arpt., runway 16, 5,137 × 100 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 94 total, 74 in this make and model, 44 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 13,000 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PWK, 2 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 19950816024209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950816024209A), Aug 16, 1995: Cessna 172, Chicago/Wheelin, IL, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel approaching destination airport. Stalled into trees trying make airport. Had flown full fuel range. (-23) on August 16, 1995 at 1800 central… ## Other investigations on N6146E (1) 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 UNK64X3227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3227), Aug 5, 1964: Cessna 172 (N6146E), Ft Pierce, FL, 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.