# NTSB FTW95LA315: Cessna 175, N9304B, Silvercliff, CO, July 24, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 1995, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Silvercliff, CO - Location: 38.1292° N, 105.3992° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Silver Cliff, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1292&lon=-105.3992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19512 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA315 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19512/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA315 ## Probable cause FAILURE BY THE PILOT TO FUEL THE AIRCRAFT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR WAS UNSUITABLE 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, maneuvering - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis WHILE ON A LOCAL AREA FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT CONDUCTED A FORCED LANDING TO ROUGH TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT PROVIDED NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE TANKS, LINES OR OTHER PORTIONS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. NO FUEL STAINS WERE FOUND AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 1995, at 1130 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 175, N9304B, impacted the ground while maneuvering near Silvercliff, Colorado. The commercial pilot and passenger received serious injuries and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for this local area 14 CFR Part 91 observation flight which departed Westcliffe, Colorado at 1045. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to "view the valley." At the time of the accident, the weather reported by the pilot was clear skies with light and variable winds, and a temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot stated that the engine lost power at 100 feet above ground level. He said that switching fuel tanks, turning on boost pump and advancing the mixture did not change the power loss and he made a forced landing on hilly terrain covered with trees at an elevation of about 9,000 feet above mean sea level. During examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector following the accident, he noted that there was no fuel present in any tank, in the lines, strainer, carburetor, fuel pump, nor were there any fuel stains on the ground. The aircraft recovery people verified that they found no evidence of fuel, and during an engine examination, following recovery of the aircraft, no evidence of fuel was found by this investigator. The engine examination provided no evidence of failure or malfunction. According to the pilot, he had approximately 20 gallons of fuel on board at the time the flight originated, about 45 minutes prior to the accident, and he stated that the left tank gauge indicated about 1/2 full at the time the engine lost power. Verification of the fuel measuring system accuracy could not be accomplished following the accident due to aircraft damage. According to the aircraft manual, the fuel system consists of two 26 gallon aluminum tanks. Each tank useable capacity is 21.5 gallons. The fuel selector provides the pilot with options of off, right tank, left tank, or both. Based on operating data from the aircraft manual, takeoff weight was approximately 1,865 pounds, 485 pounds below maximum, and fuel burn at 9,000 feet in normal cruise, lean mixture, averaged about eight gallons per hour. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9304B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9304B-2013-05-22), registration cancelled 2013-05-22, S/N 55-104, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 175 - Registry model: [Cessna 175](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175) (registry code 2072502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 55-104 - Airframe hours: 3600 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Registered owner: Carla J./Frank E. Hardy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 30, 1994, 50 hours before - Departed: 4C03, WESTCLIFFE, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,134 total, 163 in this make and model, 3,134 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 100 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 19950724049629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950724049629A), Jul 24, 1995: Cessna 175, Silvercliff, CO, Destroyed. (-16) On July 24, 1995, N9304B impacted the ground near Silvercliff, Colorado. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot and passenger received serious… ## Other investigations on N9304B (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC92LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA113), Jul 28, 1992: Cessna 175 (N9304B), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT DUE TO AN OIL PASSAGE HOLE BEING BLOCKED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. 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.