# NTSB FTW02LA182: Cessna R172K, N758W, Llano, TX, June 15, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 15, 2002, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Llano, TX - Coordinates: 30.070278, -98.660278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0703&lon=-98.6603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration (FSDO) - NTSB case key (mKey): 54953 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA182 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54953/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54953 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA182 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he performed a pre-flight inspection and noted that the left fuel tank's gauge indicated empty and the right fuel tank's gauge indicated 1/3 to 1/2 full. He started the airplane, taxied to runway 17 for takeoff, and performed an engine run-up. No anomalies were noted during the engine run-up, and the flight departed. The flight remained in the pattern and the pilot executed a touch-and-go landing. During the initial takeoff climb, approximately 200 feet agl, the engine lost power. During the ensuing forced landing to a field, the pilot verified that the fuel selector was in the both position, the throttle and mixture controls were full forward, and that his passenger's lap belt and shoulder harness were secure. The airplane landed in a mesquite covered field, the right wing struck a tree, the airplane pivoted 90 degrees and came to a stop upright. Both fuel tanks were drained; the left tank was empty and the right tank contained 2.1 gallons of fuel. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook each wing tank is capable of holding 26 gallons of fuel. The fuel system's capacity is 52 gallons, of which 49 gallons are useable in all flight conditions and 3 gallons are unusable. ## Factual narrative On June 15, 2002, at 1100 central daylight time, a Cessna R172K single-engine airplane, N758W, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during the initial takeoff climb from the Llano Municipal Airport, Llano, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The commercial pilot and his one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the Llano Municipal Airport at 1050. According to the pilot, he performed a pre-flight inspection and noted that the left fuel tank's gauge indicated empty and the right fuel tank's gauge indicated 1/3 to 1/2 full. He started the airplane, taxied to runway 17 for takeoff, and performed an engine run-up. No anomalies were noted during the engine run-up, and the flight departed. The flight remained in the pattern and the pilot executed a touch-and-go landing. During the initial takeoff climb, approximately 200 feet agl, the engine lost power. During the ensuing forced landing to a field, the pilot verified that the fuel selector was in the both position, the throttle and mixture controls were full forward, and that his passengers lap belt and shoulder harness were secure. The airplane landed in a mesquite covered field, the right wing struck a tree, the airplane pivoted 90 degrees and came to a stop upright. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident site and reported that both wings' spars were damaged and the right wing's fuselage attach point was structurally damaged. He added that fuel was present in the fuel strainer and a one quart sample of fuel was drained from the airplane's main sump. The fuel sample was observed to be clear and free of contaminants. Both fuel tanks were drained; the left tank was empty and the right tank contained 2.1 gallons of fuel. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook each wing tank is capable of holding 26 gallons of fuel. The fuel system's capacity is 52 gallons, of which 49 gallons are useable in all flight conditions and 3 gallons are unusable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N758W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N758W-2013-02-26), registration cancelled 2013-02-26, S/N R1723029, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna R172K - Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R1723029 - Airframe hours: 2177 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-KB 195 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas E. Rodman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 2002, 1 hours before - Departed: 6R9, Llano, TX - Airport: 6R9, Llano Municipal, runway 17, 4,202 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 18, 1997; seat: left; flight hours: 1,277 total, 856 in this make and model, 1,171 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: BMQ, 22 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 20020615011219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020615011219A), Jun 15, 2002: Cessna R172K, Llano, TX, Substantial damage. (.19) On June 15, 2002, at 1000 central daylight time, a Cessna R172K single-engine airplane, N758W, was substantially damaged during a forced landing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54953. 888 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 419 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445564&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Cessna R172K Pilot's Operating Handbook (Excerpt) (item 2, .PDF, 383 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40169475&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20R172K%20Pilot%27s%20Operating%20Handbook%20(Excerpt)-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 3, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445565&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.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.