# NTSB FTW03LA100: Cessna 172K, N678BC, Jacksonville, TX, February 18, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 18, 2003, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Jacksonville, TX - Coordinates: 31.869167, -95.217224 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8692&lon=-95.2172&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56507 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56507/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA100 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation for the flight which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane impacted and came to rest in a grove of trees approximately 1/4 mile short of the landing threshold of the runway. The 400-hour pilot reported to the FAA inspector that the engine "began sputtering and running rough while he was on final, until it finally stopped." The propeller did not exhibit signs of rotational damage, and post-recovery examination of the fuel tanks revealed no fuel was present in either tank. The airplane had been airborne for four hours since the time it departed on a 410-nautical miles cross-country flight. No refueling stops were made along the route of flight. ## Factual narrative On February 18, 2003, at 1730 central standard time, a Cessna 172K single-engine airplane, N678BC, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while landing near Jacksonville, Texas. The non-instrument rated private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the personal flight. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The 410-nautical mile cross country flight originated at the Atmore Municipal Airport (0R1) near Atmore, Alabama, at 1330 CST, with Jacksonville, Texas, as its intended destination. According to local authorities, that responded to the accident site, the airplane impacted and came to rest in a grove of trees approximately 1/4 mile short of the landing threshold for runway 14 at the Cherokee County Airport (JSO) near Jacksonville, Texas. The pilot egressed the wreckage unassisted and walked to the airport to report the accident. The FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported that the 1969-model Cessna was found in about a 45-degree nose down, left wing low attitude, atop matured trees. The inspector reported that due to the attitude of the wreckage, he was not able to sump either of the fuel cells. He added that he was able to drain some fuel from the gascolator, and that the carburetor heat selector was in the fully closed (cold) position. The 400-hour pilot reported to the FAA inspector that the engine "began sputtering and running rough while he was on final, until it finally stopped." Examination of the wreckage revealed severe structural damage to the outer portion of both wings, and the empennage was rotated 25-30 degrees. The propeller did not exhibit signs of rotational damage. Post recovery examination of the fuel tanks revealed no fuel in either tank. The airplane had been airborne for four hours since the time it departed Atmore, Alabama. No refueling stops were made along the route of flight. Numerous attempts to obtain the completed Pilot/Operator Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) from the pilot were unsuccessful. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N678BC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N678BC-2017-04-13), registration cancelled 2017-04-13, S/N 17258201, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172-58201 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bryan D. Sudduth - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 0R1, Atmore, AL - Destination: JSO, Jacksonville, TX - Airport: JSO, Cherokee County Airport, runway 14, 5,011 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 400 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: JSO, 1 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 20030218003409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030218003409A), Feb 18, 2003: Cessna 172K, Jacksonville, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) VFR flight from sarasota, FL (sra) to abilene, TX. Dpt srq made fuel stop 375 mi later at atmore, al (0R1), took on 36.5 ga with 38 gal usable. Departed… 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.