# NTSB ERA23LA333: Cessna 172, N5453K, Port Norris, NJ, August 11, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 11, 2023, 14:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Port Norris, NJ · Grass field - Coordinates: 39.25, -75.06 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2500&lon=-75.0600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192851 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA333 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192851/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192851 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA333 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. ## 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 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 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: 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) - [Emergency descent: 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) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he departed on the flight with a total of 18 gallons of fuel on board. About one hour into the flight, while over water, the engine lost power. He established best glide configuration and prepared to ditch the airplane. His personal flotation vest became entangled in the seat belt and headset wire and he did not feel that he had sufficient time to refer to the emergency procedures checklist. After attempting restart the engine and declaring an emergency, the engine regained power. After setting up to land at a nearby airport, the engine lost power again, so he performed a forced landing in a farm field. After touchdown, the nose landing gear dug into the soil and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The airframe was substantially damaged. The pilot noted that the fuel selector handle was in the “left tank” position at the time of the accident. An examination of the fuel system revealed there were 1.5 gallons of fuel in the left wing tank, which remained intact, and 10 gallons in the right tank. The standard unusable fuel quantity for each of the airplane’s fuel tanks was 1.5 gallons. Based on the available information, the circumstances of the accident are consistent with a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On August 11, 2023, about 1410 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P airplane, N5453K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Port Norris, New Jersey. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he departed on the flight with about 18 gallons of fuel on board. While flying at 3,000 ft mean sea level while over Delaware Bay, the engine lost total power. He established the airplane’s best glide configuration and prepared to ditch in the water. His personal flotation vest became entangled in the seat belt and headset wire and he did not feel that he had sufficient time to refer to the emergency procedures checklist. He attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. Shortly after declaring an emergency, the engine regained power. He attempted to reach Millville Municipal Airport (MIV), Millville, New Jersey, as he climbed from 1,200 ft. The engine lost power again, so he established best glide speed and performed a forced landing in a farm field. After touchdown, the nose landing gear dug into the soil and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The pilot noted that the fuel selector handle was in the “left tank” position. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The wreckage was found inverted; however, the fuel caps were secured and there was no evidence of fuel leakage. The left wing fuel tank was intact and contained about 1.5 gallons of fuel. The right wing tank contained about 10 gallons of fuel. According to the Cessna 172P Pilot’s Operating Handbook, the standard fuel tank configuration includes 1.5 gallons of unusable fuel per tank. The pilot reported that, after the accident, when he went to check the fuel selector, he found that it was in the “LEFT” tank position. He further stated that he had only been running on one tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5453K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5453K), registered now, S/N 17274119, built 1980 (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: 17274119 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 13450 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 29, 2023, 130 hours before - Departed: 31E, West Creek, NJ - Destination: WWD, Wildwood, NJ - Airport: MIV, Millville Municipal - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 31, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 727 total, 702 in this make and model, 680 as pilot in command, 128 in the last 90 days, 63 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: KMIV, 7 nm away - METAR: METAR KMIV 111754Z AUTO 26009KT 10SM FEW037 29/20 A2984 RMK AO2 SLP104 T02890200 10289 20222 55000 ## 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 20230811012449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230811012449A), Aug 11, 2023: Cessna 172P, Port Norris, NJ, Substantial damage. On 8/11/23, PIC of a CE-172P made an emergency landing on an open field in Port Norris, NJ, while enroute from eagles nest airport, NJ (31N) to cape may… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192851. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16239175&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB mor pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16239185&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20NTSB%20MOR%20Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 572 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16238794&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Cessna 172P POH excerpts - fuel system (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16238687&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6%20POH%20Excerpts%20-%20Fuel%20System-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 423 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16239361&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=7%20Investigation%20Photographs-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.