# NTSB ERA09CA382: Cessna 172H, N1782F, Clifton, ME, July 3, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 3, 2009, 14:49 local (18:49 UTC) - Place: Clifton, ME - Coordinates: 44.819168, -68.569725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8192&lon=-68.5697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - 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): 74209 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA382 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74209/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74209 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA382 ## Probable cause The pilot's mismanagement of his fuel supply which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power. ## 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 172H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he completed a preflight inspection and estimated that there were approximately 5 gallons of fuel in the left main tank and "little or none" in the right main tank. He added that he departed with the fuel selector in the "Both" position. The before-takeoff checks were "good" and he performed a southerly takeoff. While turning crosswind, the engine stopped producing power, the airplane "wanted to stall," but it landed on the water "hard" and under control. The airplane then struck a dock, the floats collapsed, and the airplane continued into the woods which damaged the wings. The winds reported 12 miles west of the accident site were from 190 degrees at 6 knots. Other than the loss of engine power, the pilot reported that there were no problems with the performance and handling of the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he completed a preflight inspection and estimated that there were approximately 5 gallons of fuel in the left main tank and "little or none" in the right main tank. He added that he departed with the fuel selector in the "Both" position. The before-takeoff checks were "good" and he performed a southerly takeoff. While turning crosswind, the engine stopped producing power, the airplane "wanted to stall," but it landed on the water "hard" and under control. The airplane then struck a dock, the floats collapsed, and the airplane continued into the woods which damaged the wings. The winds reported 12 miles west of the accident site were from 190 degrees at 6 knots. Other than the loss of engine power, the pilot reported that there were no problems with the performance and handling of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1782F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1782F), registered now, S/N 17255177 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H - Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17255177 - Airframe hours: 5369 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Chadwick Gates - Registered owner: Chadwick Gates - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 2009, 35 hours before - Departed: Clifton, ME - Destination: OLD, Old Town, ME - Airport: runway 18, water ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 17, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total, 400 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: BGR, 12 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 20090703053869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090703053869A), Jul 3, 2009: Cessna 172H, Clifton, ME, Destroyed. Pilot lost power shortly after take-off and at approximately 400 feet AGL. Pilot attempted to turn back and land on the lake. The pilot hit a dock on landing… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74209. 313 KB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1 - Memo for Record (item 1, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316571&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Memo%20for%20Record-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318863&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Maine State Police Report (item 3, .PDF, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316569&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maine%20State%20Police%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316570&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.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.