# NTSB ERA23LA049: Cessna 172, N65615, Greenville, SC, November 2, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 2, 2022, 12:52 local (16:52 UTC) - Place: Greenville, SC - Coordinates: 34.845437, -82.261335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8454&lon=-82.2613&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106245 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106245/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106245 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA049 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing was the pilot’s failure to use the checklist aboard the airplane during her attempts to restore engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed for the visual flight rules cross-country flight with about 12 gallons of fuel in each fuel tank for the planned 1 hour and 40-minute flight. She reported that while enroute the fuel gauges were reading “low” and were fluctuating. Closer to the destination, the fuel gauges indicated that more fuel was present in the right fuel tank, so the pilot moved the fuel selector from the “both” position to the “right” position. About 1.5 hours into the flight, while flying at an altitude of about 2,000 feet above ground level and while being provided with radar vectors to the airport traffic pattern at the destination airport, the engine “started sputtering and got quiet.” The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful, and she subsequently performed a forced landing in a field. The impact with the ground resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. Post-accident examination of the airplane found that the intact right-wing fuel tank was empty, that the intact left-wing fuel tank had about 6 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel remaining, and that the fuel selector was in the right tank position. During a postaccident interview the pilot stated that when the engine lost power she did not use a checklist in her attempt to restart the engine. Review of the power loss in flight checklist found aboard the airplane revealed that the sixth item stated “fuel selector – check/switch/both.” Based on all available information, it is likely that after the pilot selected the right fuel tank earlier in the flight, its fuel supply was eventually exhausted and the engine lost power. It is also likely that, had the pilot used the checklist and selected the “both” position on the fuel selector, the fuel remaining in the left fuel tank could have restored engine power before the forced landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65615](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65615-2023-09-27), registration cancelled 2023-09-27, S/N 17275786, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (P) - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275786 - Year built: 1982 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: CHS Flight School - Registered owner: Zim Sim LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 2, 2022, 1.5 hours before - Departed: DYB, Summerville, SC - Destination: GMU, Greenville, SC - Airport: GMU, Greenville Downtown - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 17, 2022; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 181.9 total, 148 in this make and model, 111.7 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 15.9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: GMU, 4 nm away - METAR: METAR KGMU 021653Z 03008KT 10SM FEW048 SCT075 BKN100 18/11 A3030 RMK AO2 SLP257 T01780106= ## 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 20221102019479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221102019479A), Nov 2, 2022: Cessna 172P, Greenville, SC, Substantial damage. Pilot statement: "On Wednesday morning, November 2nd 2022, [privacy data omitted] and I left charleston international to summerville airport in a Cessna 172… ## Other investigations on N65615 (2) 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 LAX04CA282](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA282), Jul 27, 2004: Cessna 172P (N65615), Big Bear City, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the instructor's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and delayed decision to perform a go-around. Contributing factors were wind gusts, windshear, and an excessive descent rate. - [NTSB NYC83LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83LA140), Jun 14, 1983: Cessna 172P (N65615), Latrobe, PA, substantial damage ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106245. 10.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14734028&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14727028&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20-%20Pilot%27s%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 238 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14793545&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� passenger interveiw (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 238 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14936822&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2.5%20-%20Memorandum%20For%20Record%20Passenger%20Interview-Rel.pdf - Fuel records kdyb (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14726773&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20-%20Memorandum%20For%20Record%20Pelican%20Aviation%20Fuel-Rel.pdf - Checklist found aboard N65615 (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 809 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14818875&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Checklist%20from%20N65615-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14727100&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20-%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� post-accident examination fuel quantity (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 212 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14727110&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=8%20-%20Memorandum%20For%20Record%20Atlanta%20Air%20Recovery-Rel.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.