# NTSB ERA10CA181: Cessna 172M, N8921V, Connelsville, PA, March 21, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 21, 2010, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Connelsville, PA
- Coordinates: 39.959167, -79.656944 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9592&lon=-79.6569&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75553
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA181
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75553/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75553
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA181

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel.

## 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 172M, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072418), [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.

- [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airplane’s fuel tanks were last filled on the day prior to the accident. It was then flown for 1.3 hours before the accident flight, and not refueled. While en route, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to perform a forced landing to a field, but the airplane’s nose landing gear contacted a power line. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground inverted. From the time of the last fuel service, to the time of the accident, the airplane accrued 6.0 hours of total Hobbs time. Examination of the airplane, including the fuel feed system, by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies. Only residual and unusable fuel was found in the tanks. According to the airplane owner's manual, the fuel endurance at cruise power setting is 5.9 hours. That figure does not include, engine start, taxi, takeoff, and climb.

## Factual narrative

The airplane’s fuel tanks were last filled on the day prior to the accident. It was then flown for 1.3 hours before the accident flight, and not refueled. While en route, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to perform a forced landing to a field, but the airplane’s nose landing gear contacted a power line. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground inverted. From the time of the last fuel service, to the time of the accident, the airplane accrued 6.0 hours of total Hobbs time. Examination of the airplane, including the fuel feed system, by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies. Only residual and unusable fuel was found in the tanks. According to the airplane owner's manual, the fuel endurance at cruise power setting is 5.9 hours. That figure does not include, engine start, taxi, takeoff, and climb.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8921V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8921V), registered now, S/N 17264278 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17264278
- Airframe hours: 52119
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mds Enterprises LLC
- Registered owner: Mds Enterprises LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 1, 2009
- Departed: 9G0, Buffalo, NY
- Destination: VVS, Connellsville, PA
- Airport: VVS, Connellsville

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 23, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 53 total, 53 in this make and model, 19 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observed at: MGW

## 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 20100321029979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100321029979A), Mar 21, 2010: Cessna 172M, Connelsville, PA, Substantial damage. The flight originated in kmgw with the first leg to 9G0. The PIC stated that the aircraft had full fuel at departure. Using fueling records,the investigation…

## Docket (11 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 14, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75553. 8.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 639 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328441&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 241 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329830&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Master.PDF
- N8921V Fuel Records (item 3, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328442&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=N8921V%20Fuel%20Records-Master.PDF
- N8921V Hobbs log (item 4, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328443&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=N8921V%20Hobbs%20log-Master.PDF
- Excerpt From Cessna Owner's Manual (item 5, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329831&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20From%20Cessna%20Owner%27s%20Manual-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 6, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328446&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - N8921V Hobbs Meter (Courtesy of Morgantown Municipal Airport FBO) (item 7, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328444&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20N8921V%20Hobbs%20Meter%20(Courtesy%20of%20Morgantown%20Municipal%20Airport%20FBO)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Tachometer (Courtesy of Morgantown Municipal Airport FBO) (item 8, .PDF, 594 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328445&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Tachometer%20(Courtesy%20of%20Morgantown%20Municipal%20Airport%20FBO)-Master.PDF
- FAA ASI Statement (item 9, .PDF, 453 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423825&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20ASI%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Petition for Reconsideration (item 10, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423826&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Petition%20for%20Reconsideration-Master.PDF
- Response to Petition for Reconsideration (item 11, .PDF, 787 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423827&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Response%20to%20Petition%20for%20Reconsideration-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.

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