# NTSB FTW93LA205: Cessna 172P, N54003, Lancaster, TX, July 4, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 1993, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, TX - Location: 32.5921° N, 96.7561° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lancaster, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5921&lon=-96.7561&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 19, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18787 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA205 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18787/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA205 ## Probable cause FUEL EXHAUSTION ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO THE INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE FLIGHT. A 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, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - landing gear,nose gear - overload - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis A PILOT ADDED FIVE GALLONS OF FUEL TO EACH WING TANK AFTER A TWO HOUR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. ON THE RETURN FLIGHT, WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3,500 FEET, THE ENGINE LOST POWER 1.5 HOURS INTO THE FLIGHT. A FORCED LANDING WAS EXECUTED TO A FRESHLY PLOWED FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE WHEEL DUG INTO THE SOFT GROUND, COLLAPSING THE NOSE WHEEL, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY, WHILE THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY A PINT OF FUEL ## Factual narrative On July 4, 1993, at approximately 1715 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P airplane, N54003, was substantially damaged following impact with terrain while attempting a forced landing following the loss of engine power near Lancaster, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The pilot stated that he departed for an overnight trip with a fuel load of three fourth tanks. After the two hour flight, he added five gallons of fuel per side and checked the fuel gauges at just below the half full line. Approximately an hour and a half after takeoff on the return flight, the engine lost power while at cruise flight at 3,500 feet. After attempting to restart the engine, the pilot attempted to land downwind on a freshly plowed field. During the landing roll, the nose wheel collapsed after it dug into the soft dirt, and the airplane nosed over on its back. The distance from the initial point of impact to the resting place of the airplane was measured as 132 feet. Damage to the airplane included a separated right main landing gear, buckling of the engine firewall, the partial separation of the powerplant, and damage to the vertical stabilizer. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector at the accident site, the left fuel tank was empty, the right tank contained approximately a pint of fuel, and the gascolator contained about a tablespoon of fuel. No evidence of a fuel spill was found at the accident site. The airplane was verbally released to the operator at the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54003](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54003), registered now, S/N 17274838, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - 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: 17274838 - Airframe hours: 3630 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-O2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stramel Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: Stramel Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 17, 1993, 65 hours before - Departed: CXO, CONROE, TX - Destination: ADS, DALLAS, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 218 total, 8 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 20 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DAL, 14 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 19930704022129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930704022129A), Jul 4, 1993: Cessna 172P, Lancaster, TX, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Landed soft field. Collapsed nose gear. Nosed over. Fuel tanks were empty. 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.