# NTSB ERA15LA301: Cessna 172, N8370X, Kissimmee, FL, August 9, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 2015, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Kissimmee, FL - Coordinates: 28, -81 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0000&lon=-81.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91734 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA301 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91734/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91734 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA301 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the fuel system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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 172C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot/owner stated that it had rained a lot the week before the accident but that he had sumped the airplane's fuel drains before the flight and found no water or debris. He subsequently began practicing touch-and-go landings. While the airplane was on an extended downwind, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted a forced landing to the runway. However, the airplane struck a tree and impacted terrain just short of the runway. During a postaccident examination of the engine, an excessive amount of water was found in both fuel tanks and the carburetor. A small amount of rust-colored debris was also noted in the water drained from the carburetor, and two 1/2-inch-thick pieces of rust buildup were noted along the wall of the carburetor bowl. Based on the amount of water found in the fuel system, it is likely that the engine had ingested water and that the student pilot's preflight inspection was inadequate because he failed to detect the water contamination, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 2015, at 1100 eastern daylight time, N8370X, a Cessna 172C airplane, was substantially damaged when it made a forced landing after a total loss of engine power while in the traffic pattern at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport (ISM), Kissimmee, Florida. The student pilot/registered owner sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot stated that he was practicing touch and go landings on runway 33. While in the traffic pattern, a controller asked him to extend the downwind and he complied. Shortly after, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted a forced landing to the runway. The airplane struck a palm tree located on a golf course that was adjacent to the airport and impacted terrain just short of the runway. A review of photographs taken after the accident revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and firewall. The propeller and nose gear were also damaged. A postaccident examination of the engine and airplane was conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). According to an FAA inspector, the engine was manually rotated and compression was produced to each cylinder and spark was produced to each ignition lead. The sparkplugs were in "clean condition" and exhibited a light gray or tan color. Internal inspection of the engine revealed the crankshaft, rods and camshaft were in "good condition." The carburetor was partially separated from the engine just below the throttle valve. The accelerator pump was actuated and about 1 oz of rust-colored water and fuel was removed and collected. The carburetor bowl was empty but there two, half-inch thick rust stains noted on each side of the drain plug. The carburetor inlet screen was absent of debris and the hose between the strainer and carburetor bowl was clear and absent of debris; however, a small quantity of water (about one-quarter ounce) was found in the hose. The glass gascolator exhibited condensation but was absent of any fuel or water. The tail of the airplane was held to the ground and about 4 oz of water was drained from the right wing fuel tank and about 5 oz of water was drained from the left wing fuel tank. The pilot said that it had rained a lot the week before the accident but he did not see any water when he sumped the fuel drains before the accident flight. The pilot held a student pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land and his last FAA third class medical was issued on August 20, 2013, without any restrictions. The pilot reported a total of 140 hours, of which, 125 hours were in a Cessna 172C airplane. Weather at the airport at the time of the accident was wind from 350 degrees at 5 knots, scattered clouds 2,400 feet and visibility 10 miles. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8370X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8370X-2018-05-03), registration cancelled 2018-05-03, S/N 17248870, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (C) - Registry model: [Cessna 172C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172c) (registry code 2072408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17248870 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 3852.2 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Leon-Caballero Luis E - Registered owner: Leon-Caballero Luis E - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 18, 2015, 2 hours before - Departed: ISM, Kissimmee, FL - Destination: ISM, Kissimmee, FL - Airport: ISM, Kissimmee Gateway, runway 33, 6,001 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 120 total, 125 in this make and model, 45 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: ISM ## 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 20150809013079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150809013079A), Aug 9, 2015: Cessna 172C, Kissimmee, FL, Substantial damage. On August 9, 2015 [privacy data omitted], holder of student pilot certificate number [privacy data omitted] was conducting student pilot solo operations at… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91734. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Written Statement (item 2, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436414&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Written%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 5 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436415&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.