# NTSB FTW94LA039: Cessna R172K, N8833T, Mancos, CO, November 25, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 25, 1993, 09:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Mancos, CO - Coordinates: 37.339897, -108.289733 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3399&lon=-108.2897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report May 24, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18970 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18970/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA039 ## Probable cause FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, DURING WHICH HE FAILED TO INSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN REFUELED TO CAPACITY. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR 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, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis WHILE IN CRUISE THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. DURING THE FORCED LANDING TO THE ONLY AVAILABLE BUT UNSUITABLE TERRAIN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S REPORT, HIS PRE-FLIGHT EXAMINATION VERIFIED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS FUELED TO CAPACITY PRIOR TO HIS CHECKOUT AND POSITIONING FLIGHT FROM PHOENIX TO SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA. HE DEPARTED SCOTTSDALE THE NEXT MORNING AT 0520 PST. THE ENGINE LOST POWER APPROXIMATELY 0950 MST. THE PILOT SAID HE SHOULD HAVE HAD 5.7 GALLONS REMAINING AFTER LANDING AT THE DESTINATION (TELLURIDE AIRPORT). HOWEVER, COMPANY OFFICIALS SAID THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT FUELED TO CAPACITY AND THAT 3.0 GALLONS PER TANK (6.0 GALLONS TOTAL) WERE ROUTINELY WITHHELD TO PREVENT FUEL EXPANSION AND VENTING. THE PILOT SAID THAT 'LOOKING AT THE FUEL GAUGES IS PART OF MY SCAN, WHICH I RUN THROUGH EVERY FEW SECONS DURING A FLIGHT.' AN FAA INSPECTOR FOUND NO FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK, VERY LITTLE FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK, AND RESIDUAL FUEL IN THE SUMPS AND GASCOLATOR. ## Factual narrative On November 25, 1993, approximately 0950 mountain standard time, N8833T, a Cessna R172K, was substantially damaged during a forced landing about six miles north of Mancos, Colorado. The pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The pilot stated in his enclosed report that during his pre flight inspection he verified that the airplane was fueled to capacity. Westwind Aviation's enclosed report indicated that both fuel tanks were serviced to within three gallons of capacity, which was company procedure, to prevent fuel expansion and venting. The pilot flew with a company instructor for 0.6 hours as part of the rental checkout, then flew from Deer Valley Municipal Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, to Scottsdale, Arizona, Municipal Airport, where he remained overnight. Company officials estimate this flight took 0.4 hours to complete, and that 32.0 gallons were available for the trip to Telluride. The pilot's figures indicate 38.45 gallons were available. The next morning, approximately 0520 Pacific standard time, the pilot and two passengers took off for Telluride, Colorado. Approximately 3.5 hours later, the engine lost power. The pilot made a forced landing and collided with trees. The pilot reported he should have had 5.7 gallons of fuel remaining upon arrival at his destination. Company officials estimated all fuel would have been exhausted. The pilot said that "looking at the fuel gauges is part of my scan, which I run through every few seconds during a flight" and "I do not recall any abnormalities (abnormal fuel consumption) during the latter stages of the flight." A FAA inspector who examined the airplane at the accident site reported that he found no fuel in the right wing tank, and very little fuel in the left wing tank. Draining of both wing sumps and the gascolator yielded residual fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8833T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8833T-1994-06-21), registration cancelled 1994-06-21, S/N R1723105 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA R172K - Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R1723105 - Airframe hours: 2666 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-KB 195 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Christos Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, October 20, 1993, 28 hours before - Departed: SDL, SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Destination: TEX, TELLURIDE, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 133 total, 3 in this make and model, 87 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 14 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CEZ, 29 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 19931125044489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931125044489A), Nov 25, 1993: Cessna R172K, Mancos, CO, Substantial damage. Engine quit en route. Landed in trees. 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.