# NTSB CHI96LA350: Cessna 172D, N904SW, Germantown Hill, IL, September 22, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 22, 1996, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Germantown Hill, IL - Location: 40.7690° N, 89.4630° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Germantown Hills, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7690&lon=-89.4630&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10401 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA350 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10401/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA350 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate fuel supply and his misjudging distance and altitude. The trees were a factor. ## 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 system - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot said that he departed with 8 gallons of fuel on the airplane. After a flight of about 10 to 15 minutes the engine suffered a loss of power. The pilot's attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful and he made a forced landing. He slowed the airplane on final and was unable to reach the point of intended landing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed only unusable remaining the tanks. No mechanical anomalies were found during the inspection. ## Factual narrative On September 22, 1996, at 1215 central daylight time, a Cessna 172D, N904SW, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Germantown Hill, Illinois. The commercial pilot stated that he knew that the right fuel tank was nearly empty and that the left fuel tank was reading about one-quarter full when the engine lost power. He reported minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The local flight departed Peoria, Illinois, about 1200. The pilot said that he initiated the flight with eight gallons of fuel on the airplane. He stated that he was making a local flight when the engine lost power. He stated that attempts to restart the engine proved negative. He then initiated a forced landing. According to the pilot, as the airplane turned final he slowed the airplane and was unable to reach the field he had picked out for landing. The airplane then landed in tree tops short of the intended point of landing. A post accident investigation of the accident airplane found only unusable fuel aboard the airplane. There was no indication of a fuel leak from either tank prior to the impact. The engine rotated with compression and continuity throughout. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N904SW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N904SW), registered now, S/N 17250163, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172D - Registry model: [Cessna 172D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172d) (registry code 2072410) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17250163 - Airframe hours: 2720 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert A. Wernsman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 27, 1995, 50 hours before - Departed: 3MY, PEORIA, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 1,145 total, 495 in this make and model, 1,030 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 17 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: KPI, 10 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 19960922029249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960922029249A), Sep 22, 1996: Cessna 172D, Germantown Hill, IL, Substantial damage. Lost power 15 minutes after departure. Landed in trees. Only unusable fuel on board. Misjudged fuel quanity. (-23) on September 22, 1996, at approximately 1130… 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.