# NTSB DEN89LA105: Cessna 172F, N7847U, Morgan, UT, April 10, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 9, 1989, 18:00 local (Apr 10, 1989, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Morgan, UT
- Coordinates: 41.009372, -111.669647 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0094&lon=-111.6696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17695
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17695/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA105

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE SERVICING OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT, PARTIAL BLOCKAGE OF THE FUEL LINE AND FUEL FILTER, AND FUEL STARVATION. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE DOWNWARD SLOPING RUNWAY AND A FENCE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system,filter - blocked(partial) (cause)
  - fuel system,line - blocked(partial) (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Overrun, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - downhill (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DRG FLT AT 10,500' MSL, THE ENG LOST POWER & WOULD NOT RESTART. THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON RWY 21 AT A NEARBY ARPT. THE RWY WAS ONLY 3800' LONG & HAD A RPRTD DOWNWARD SLOPE OF 1.5 DEG. THE WIND WAS ESTIMATED TO BE FROM 270 DEG AT 10 KTS. THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG THE LANDING, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN AT ABOUT MIDFIELD & HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY. AFTER GOING OFF THE DEPARTURE END, IT HIT A FENCE & WAS DAMAGED. A POST ACDNT EXAM REVEALED THERE WAS SEVEN GAL OF FUEL REMAINING. A CHECK OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE MAIN FUEL LINE & FUEL FILTER WERE RESTRICTING FUEL FLOW. THE PLT RELATED THAT THIS ACFT HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY & HE HAD DRAINED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF WATER FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM. AUTOMOTIVE FUEL WAS BEING USED IN THE ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7847U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7847U), registered now, S/N 17251847, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F
- Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17251847
- Airframe hours: 9385
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Finnegan, James M.
- Registered owner: James M Finnegan
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 1988, 100 hours before
- Departed: 1U7, PARIS, ID
- Destination: BTF, BOUNTIFUL, UT
- Airport: 42U, Morgan Muni, runway 21, 3,804 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 301 total, 150 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F

## 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 19890409012029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890409012029A), Apr 9, 1989: Cessna 172F, Morgan, UT, Substantial damage. Reported engine quit. Landed nearby airport and overran runway. Was midfield and down grade. Restricted fuel lines.

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.

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