# NTSB DFW05LA067: Cessna 172F, N8203U, Sallisaw, OK, January 20, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 20, 2005, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Sallisaw, OK - Coordinates: 35.438056, -94.80278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4381&lon=-94.8028&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Oklahoma City FSDO, SW15 - NTSB case key (mKey): 60985 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60985/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA067 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis A commercial pilot departed on a cross-country flight. The pilot reported that he was at an altitude of 3,500 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL), at a low cruise power setting, when "the engine began running rough". The pilot stated that he checked the mixture, fuel selector, magneto switch, and then applied carburetor heat. The engine continued to run rough until "it quit," at approximately 600 ft above ground level (AGL). During the forced landing in a field, the airplane impacted a barbed wire fence and hit a small tree. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On January 20, 2005, approximately 1415 central standard time, a Cessna 172F, single-engine airplane, N8203U, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The local flight originated from the Tahlequah Municipal Airport (TQH), near Tahlequah, Oklahoma, at an unknown time, destined for Sallisaw Municipal Airport (JSV) near Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Despite repeated attempts by the Investigator-In-Charge (IIC), the pilot never returned a completed Pilot Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). However, in a written statement submitted by the pilot to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector shortly after the accident, the pilot reported that he was at an altitude of 3,500 feet mean sea level (MSL), approximately 10 miles northeast of Sallisaw, at a low cruise power setting, when "the engine began running rough". The pilot stated that he checked the mixture, fuel selector, magneto switch, and then applied carburetor heat. The engine continued to run rough until "it quit," at approximately 600 ft above ground level (AGL). During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a barbed-wire fence and hit a small tree. An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed structural damage to the inboard section of the left wing and flap area, the outboard leading edge of the left wing, the outboard section of the right wing, and the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. Additional damage to the wing strut, spinner/propeller assembly, and engine cowling was observed. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. At 1355, the automated weather observing system at JSV, located approximately 3 miles southwest of the accident site, reported wind from 220 degrees at 7 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, a clear sky, temperature 68 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 39 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.97 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8203U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8203U-2018-01-29), registration cancelled 2018-01-29, S/N 17252103, 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: 17252103 - Engines: Continental O-300-C 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael Spittler - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TQH, Tahlequah, OK - Destination: Sallisaw, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 5,700 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported - Wind: 220° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KJSV, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050120001039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050120001039A), Jan 20, 2005: Cessna 172F, Sallisaw, OK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported at approximately 10 miles northeast of Sallisaw, OK at 3500 ft. on a easterly heading enroute to tahlequah, OK he started experiencing… 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.