# NTSB ERA09CA297: Cessna 172, N3063U, Perryville, MD, May 20, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 20, 2009, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Perryville, MD - Coordinates: 39.564998, -76.071662 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5650&lon=-76.0717&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA / FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73873 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA297 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73873/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73873 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA297 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172E, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072412), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172E, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072412), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cessna 172E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2072412), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072412), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 172E, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072412), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and owner of the airplane departed on a round-trip cross-country flight with one stop. Before departure the owner topped off the fuel tanks and the pilot elected to trust the owner on the accuracy of the fuel amount. No fuel was added and the fuel level was not verified while at the enroute stop. Ten miles from the departure airport, on the return leg, the engine stopped running. The pilot attempted to restart the engine and switched fuel tanks, but the engine would not restart. The pilot elected to land in an empty field; during the landing, the airplane overran the field boundary, went through a ditch, and impacted a tree as it crossed a road before coming to a stop. In the process, the airplane’s nose gear broke off and damaged the leading edge of the right wing. The pilot and owner exited the airplane without assistance. The airplane had been flown for a total of 3 hours and 40 minutes in the round-trip flight before the engine stopped running due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative The pilot and owner of the airplane departed on a round trip cross-country flight with one stop. Before departure the owner topped off the fuel tanks and the pilot elected to trust the owner on the accuracy of the fuel amount. No fuel was added or fuel level verified while at the enroute stop. Ten miles from the departure airport, on the return leg, the engine stopped running. The pilot attempted to restart the engine and switched fuel tanks, but the engine would not re-start. The pilot elected to land in an empty field; overran the field boundary, went through a ditch, and impact a tree as it crossed a road before coming to a stop. In the process, the airplane’s nose gear broke off and damaged the leading edge of the right wing. The pilot and owner exited the airplane without assistance. The airplane had been flown for a total of 3 hours and 40 minutes in the round trip flight before the engine stopped running due to fuel exhaustion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3063U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3063U), registered now, S/N 17250663, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (D) - Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17250663 - Airframe hours: 3555 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 2009, 6 hours before - Departed: 9VG, Weirwood, VA - Destination: OW3, Churchville, MD - Airport: OW3, Hartford County Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 260 total, 225 in this make and model, 50 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.38 inHg - Observed at: KMTN, 25 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 20090520008779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090520008779A), May 20, 2009: Cessna 172E, Perryville, MD, Substantial damage. (-23) Private pilot [privacy data omitted] and aircraft owner [privacy data omitted] topped the tanks of N3063U at harford county airport (OW3). They flew to… ## Other investigations on N3063U (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 CHI78FEC22](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FEC22), Mar 4, 1978: Cessna 172E (N3063U), Almont, MI, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73873. 755 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 664 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314590&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies: Witness Statements to the FAA Inspector. (item 2, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%3A%20Witness%20Statements%20to%20the%20FAA%20Inspector.-Redacted.PDF 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.