# NTSB ERA12CA036: Cessna 172F, N5419R, Atlanta, GA, October 17, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 17, 2011, 19:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33.871944, -84.301109 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8719&lon=-84.3011&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Continental Motors, Inc., FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82095 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82095/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82095 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA036 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## 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 172F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072414), [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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, prior to departure, he calculated that he had 3.5 hours of usable fuel for the 2-hour-15-minute flight. He also indicated that the airplane’s average fuel consumption was 8 gallons per hour. He performed a preflight inspection and noted that the fuel gauges indicated about three-quarters full, which he believed to be about 20 to 30 gallons of fuel. During climbout, the oil door on the engine cowling opened, and the pilot returned to the departure airport to close it. After landing, the pilot taxied to the ramp to secure the door and then departed again. The cross-country flight was uneventful, but, when the airplane was on a gradual descent about 6 miles from the destination airport, the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to continue to the destination airport, but the airplane descended into trees and impacted the ground in a residential area, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks were not breached; recovery personnel removed a total of 1.5 gallons of fuel from the airplane. An examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot believed that the airplane had a fuel capacity of 42 gallons. According to the owner's manual, the airplane had a fuel capacity of 39 gallons, of which 36 gallons were usable. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, prior to departure he calculated that he had 3.5 hours of usable fuel for the two hour and 15 minute flight. In addition, he indicated that the average fuel consumption was eight gallons per hour. He performed a preflight inspection, and noted that the fuel gauges indicated about three-quarters full, which he believed to be about 20 to 30 gallons of fuel. On climb out, the oil door on the engine cowling opened and the pilot returned to the departure airport to close it. After landing the pilot taxied to the ramp, to secure the door and then departed again. The cross country flight was uneventful and the pilot requested a straight in approach to the destination airport. He was performing a gradual descent about six miles from the airport when the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to land at the destination airport, but the airplane descended into trees and impacted the ground in a residential area resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. A post accident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks were not breached and recovery personnel removed 1.5 gallons of fuel total from the airplane. An examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot believed that the airplane had a fuel capacity of 42 gallons and according to the owner's manual; the airplane had a fuel capacity of 39 gallons, of which 36 gallons were usable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5419R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5419R-2017-10-31), registration cancelled 2017-10-31, S/N 17252962, built 1965 (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: 17252962 - Airframe hours: 4546 - Engines: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: N5419r LLC - Registered owner: N5419r LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2011, 26 hours before - Departed: HDX, Hilton Head, SC - Destination: PDK, Atlanta, GA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: PDK, DeKalb-Peachtree Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review February 6, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 209 total, 170 in this make and model, 131 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: PDK, 2 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 20111017024289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111017024289A), Oct 17, 2011: Cessna 172F, Atlanta, GA, Destroyed. On Monday, October 17, 2011, aircraft, N5419R, a Cessna 172F, departed kcre (n. myrtle beach) for khxd (hilton head, SC) for a short layover, then proceeded to… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82095. 10.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358036&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Engine Inspection Report: NTSB Personnel (item 2, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358144&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Inspection%20Report%3A%20NTSB%20Personnel-Master.PDF - Engine Teardown Report (item 3, .PDF, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Teardown%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Cessna 172 Owner's Manual Excerpt (item 4, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358170&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20172%20Owner%27s%20Manual%20Excerpt-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Airplane as it came to rest (item 5, .PDF, 411 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358068&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane%20as%20it%20came%20to%20rest-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 6, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358069&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - PDK Weather Observations (item 7, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358074&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=PDK%20Weather%20Observations-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.