# NTSB DEN04LA045: Cessna 172N, N9892J, Parowan, UT, February 13, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 12, 2004, 23:00 local (Feb 13, 2004, 06:00 UTC) - Place: Parowan, UT - Coordinates: 37.909523, -112.850868 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9095&lon=-112.8509&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Salt Lake City FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58763 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58763/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA045 ## Probable cause the pilot's in-flight decision/planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion. The fence and night conditions were contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system - exhaustion (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - fence (contributing factor) - light condition - night ## Analysis According to the pilot, he topped-off the airplane with fuel, and departed to the west on a long cross-country flight. After flying for several hours, he saw the "glow of [city] lights" and thought it was his destination. He attempted to contact the airport by radio, but did not receive a response. He stated that, at that time, he was unable to pick up the VOR. At that point he realized that he must have drifted north and off of his intended heading. He said he adjusted his heading to the southwest, and climbed to a higher altitude. Shortly thereafter, he located his destination, and through radio contact, turned on the runway lights. As he flew over the airport, the airplane's engine began to lose power and then it "cut out." He circled around the airport as he descended and set up for a forced landing on runway 22. On the final approach, he realized that he wasn't going to make the runway. He said that he "increased the [airplane's] angle of attack," but the airplane fell short of the runway. The airplane's right wing struck a fence post and the airplane impacted the terrain approximately 50 yards short of the runway threshold. The airplane's right wing spar was bent outboard of the wing strut, and the nose landing gear was separated from the gear fork. An on-site examination of the airplane revealed that both wing fuel tanks were empty. ## Factual narrative On February 12, 2004, at approximately 2300 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172N, N9892J, operated by Pro-Air Aviation, LLC., was substantially damaged when it struck a fence during a forced landing at Parowan Airport (1L9), Parowan, Utah. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed for this personal cross-country flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight to Cedar City, Utah, originated at Albuquerque, New Mexico, at approximately 1830. According to the pilot, he stated that he had flown the route between Albuquerque and Cedar City four previous times. Prior to departing Albuquerque, he said he "filled up with fuel." They departed Albuquerque, and flew on a heading of 280 degrees over Page, Arizona. From Page, he flew a heading of 290 degrees. As he cleared the mountains, he saw the "glow of [city] lights" and thought it was Cedar City. He attempted to contact the Cedar City Airport by radio, but did not receive a response. He also stated that, at that time, he was unable to pick up Cedar City's VHF Omni-directional Radio range (VOR). At that point, he realized that he must have drifted north and off of his intended heading, and identified that the city was not Cedar City. He said he adjusted his heading to the southwest, and climbed up to 11,000 feet (msl). Shortly thereafter, he saw Parowan, Utah, and through radio contact, turned on the runway lights. As he flew over Parowan Airport, the airplane's engine began to lose power and then it "cut out." He circled around the airport as he descended and set up for a forced landing on runway 22. On the final approach, he realized that he wasn't going to make the runway. He said that he "increased the [airplane's] angle of attack," but the airplane fell short of the runway. The airplane's right wing struck a fence post and the airplane impacted the terrain approximately 50 yards short of the runway threshold. The airplane's right wing spar was bent outboard of the wing strut, and the nose landing gear was separated from the gear fork. According to an FAA inspector, an on-site examination revealed that both wing fuel tanks were empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9892J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9892J-2007-05-08), registration cancelled 2007-05-08, S/N 17273952 (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: 17273952 - Airframe hours: 7206 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pro Air Aviation LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 2004, 61.6 hours before - Departed: AEG, Albuquerque, NM - Destination: CDC, Cedar City, UT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 1L9, Parowan Airport, runway 220, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 152 total, 135 in this make and model, 95 as pilot in command, 86 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 9 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KCDC, 16 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 20040212001839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040212001839A), Feb 12, 2004: Cessna 172N, Parowan, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot departed double eagle, NM (aeg) at 1800 MST enroute to cedar city, UT. He flew to the page VOR, "turned slightly right to avoid the grand… ## Other investigations on N9892J (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 DEN05LA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA127), Aug 17, 2005: Cessna 172N (N9892J), Cedar City, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: the loss of engine power for reasons undetermined. Contributing factors include the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and the soft dirt. 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.