# NTSB CHI97LA062: Cessna 172N, N4696G, Fort Wayne, IN, February 1, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 31, 1997, 22:02 local (Feb 1, 1997, 03:02 UTC) - Place: Fort Wayne, IN - Coordinates: 41.070068, -85.17073 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0701&lon=-85.1707&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10514 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10514/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA062 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate fuel management and fuel system exhaustion. A factor involved was the inadequate in-flight planning/decision. ## 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 - fuel system - exhaustion (cause) - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The flight originated from Hendersonville, North Carolina, at 1730 est with the intended destination of Elkhart, Indiana. The pilot said that on final approach to runway 23 at Fort Wayne Municipal Airport, he lost power and discovered that he was out of fuel. 1.5 gallons of clean blue fuel was drained from the fuel filter. The Pilot's Operating Handbook states a total unusable fuel as 3 gallons. ## Factual narrative On January 31, 1997, at 2202 eastern standard time (est), a Cessna 172N, N4696G, registered to Aerolina, Inc., of Hendersonville, North Carolina, received substantial damage when it landed short of runway 23 at the Fort Wayne Municipal Airport, Fort Wayne, Indiana, following a total loss of engine power. The pilot intended to stop at Fort Wayne, Indiana for fuel. The private pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Hendersonville, North Carolina, at 1730 est with the intended destination of Elkhart, Indiana. According to the pilot's written statement, he said, "...on final approach to FWA [Fort Wayne Municipal Airport] & lost power later discovered out of fuel." Post accident examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI) stated that he removed the spark plugs, and they were clean and dry. Turned propeller through and received a good spark from both magnetos. The PMI drained fuel from the fuel filter at the bottom of the engine compartment and received a total of one and a half gallons of clean blue color fuel. The Pilot's Operating Handbook states that the total unusable fuel is 3 gallons. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4696G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4696G-2012-11-27), registration cancelled 2012-11-27, S/N 17273322 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273322 - Airframe hours: 6862 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aerolina, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 10, 1997, 15 hours before - Departed: 0A7, HENDERSONVILLE, NC - Destination: EKM, ELKHART, IN - Airport: FWA, Fort Wayne Municipal, runway 23, 12,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 149 total, 130 in this make and model, 100 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 260° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft overcast - Temperature: 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FWA ## 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 19970131001069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970131001069A), Jan 31, 1997: Cessna 172N, Fort Wayne, IN, Substantial damage. On January 31, 1997, at 2202 eastern standard time (EST), a Cessna 172N, N4696G, registered to aerolina, inc., of hendersonville, north carolina, received… ## Other investigations on N4696G (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 ATL99LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA013), Nov 8, 1998: Cessna 172N (N4696G), Lima, SC, destroyed. Probable cause: The flight instructor's intentional flight into Instrument Meteorological Conditions. Factors were trees and mountainous terrain. 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.