- Date
- March 19, 2005, 17:05 local (23:05 UTC)
- Place
- Nachogdoches, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N12CTCessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 8, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20050319003519A
- Case key
- 61172
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper in-flight planning which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The 550-hour pilot reported that when he was at a cruise altitude of 2,500 feet mean seal level (msl), when the "engine quit." During the forced landing, the airplane struck the tops of trees, nosed over, and impacted terrain. The pilot further stated that he "thought he ran out of fuel." Examination of the airplane revealed that no fuel was observed in the left fuel tank. The owner reported that during the recovery of the airplane, approximately three gallons of automotive fuel was drained from the right fuel tank.
Factual narrative
On March 19, 2005, approximately 1705 central standard time, a Cessna 172M single-engine airplane, N12CT, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during cruise flight near Nacogdoches, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Angelina County Airport (LFK), near Lufkin, Texas, at an unknown time and was destined for the Al Mangham Jr. Airport (OCH), near Nacogdoches, Texas.
During a telephone interview with an NTSB representative, the 550-hour pilot reported that while at a cruise altitude of 2,500 feet mean seal level (msl), when the "engine quit." The pilot initiated a forced landing to a nearby dirt road, but noticed a set of power lines adjacent to the road. The pilot added that instead of going near the power lines, he elected to land in an area of small trees. At an altitude of approximately 30 feet above ground level, the airplane struck the tops of the trees, nosed over, and impacted the ground. The pilot further stated that he "thought he ran out of fuel."
Examination of the airplane by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the site of the accident, revealed that the airplane came to rest within trees in a near vertical nose-down attitude. The leading edges of both wings were crushed aft. The engine was crushed aft into engine firewall. No fuel was observed in the left fuel tank. The owner reported that during the recovery of the airplane, approximately three gallons of automotive fuel was drained from the right fuel tank.
A completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) was not received from the pilot.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N12CT
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 46094
- Engine
- Continental O-300, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ferrel D. Davis
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Lufkin, TX
- Destination
- OCH · Nachogdoches, TX
- Airport
- OCH · A L Mangham Jr. Regional
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 550 total · 300 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- OCH, 3 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.