# NTSB FTW97LA106: Cessna 172, N1419Y, Rogers, AR, February 15, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 15, 1997, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Rogers, AR - Coordinates: 36.330123, -94.129089 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3301&lon=-94.1291&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20160 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20160/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA106 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper fuel consumption calculations, which resulted in the loss of engine power, due to fuel exhaustion. A factor relating to the accident 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 - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis According to the pilot, he intended to perform a cross-country flight from Paxton, Illinois, to Longview, Texas, with a refueling stop at Bentonville, Arkansas. After 4 hours and 5 minutes of flight, the airplane, 'ran out of fuel over Rogers, Arkansas, approximately 8 miles from Bentonville.' Rogers airport was within gliding distance, but once the airplane got closer to the airport, the pilot did not think that the airplane would be able to 'clear the trees that paralleled the runway to the east so I chose a course to the north where a clearing was.' He then 'discovered the runway was built up on a hill which I could not distinguish from the air.' Rather than risk impacting the crest of the hill, he landed on the side of the hill running 'parallel to the horizontal run of the hill.' During the landing roll, as the airplane rounded the ridge at the west end of the hill, it impacted a drainage ditch. A fuel sample was taken at the accident site, and approximately 1/2 quart of fuel was drained from each fuel tank. According to the 1962 Cessna 172 owner's manual, the range with full fuel (39 useable gallons), at 7,000 feet and 75% power was 4 hours and 6 minutes, with no reserve. ## Factual narrative On February 15, 1997, at 1230 central standard time, a Cessna 172, N1419Y, registered to and operated by a private owner, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Rogers, Arkansas. The pilot received minor injuries, one passenger received serious injuries, and the other two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. A VFR flight plan was filed for the cross country flight that originated in Paxton, Illinois, at approximately 0820. According to the pilot, he intended to perform a cross country flight from Paxton, Illinois, to Longview, Texas, with a refueling stop at Bentonville, Arkansas. After 4 hours and 5 minutes of flight, the airplane, "ran out of fuel over Rogers, Arkansas, approximately 8 miles from Bentonville." Rogers airport was within gliding distance, but once the airplane got close to the airport, the pilot did not think the airplane would be able to "clear the trees that paralleled the runway to the east so I chose a course to the north where a clearing was." He then "discovered the runway was built up on a hill which I could not distinguish from the air." Rather than risk impacting the crest of the hill, he landed on the side of the hill running "parallel to the horizontal run of the hill." During the landing roll, as the airplane rounded the ridge at the west end of the hill, it impacted a drainage ditch. The engine, firewall, and nose landing gear were damaged. According to a local law enforcement officer, the pilot told him that he "thought he had 5 hours of fuel but he had only been flying about four and a half hours when he ran out of gas." The officer interviewed the passengers, and they stated that the pilot had told them the airplane was out of fuel, and he was going to try to land it in an open field. Two FAA personnel went to the site of the accident to take a fuel sample from the airplane. They reported that they were able to drain approximately 1/2 quart of fuel from each fuel tank. According to the 1962 Cessna 172 owner's manual, the range with full fuel (39 useable gallons), at 7,000 feet and 75% power is 4 hours and 6 minutes, with no reserve. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1419Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1419Y-2013-04-26), registration cancelled 2013-04-26, S/N 17249119, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172c) (registry code 2072408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17249119 - Airframe hours: 2400 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Emmett J. Beherns - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, February 12, 1997, 6 hours before - Departed: 1C1, PAXTON, IL - Destination: VBT, BENTONVILLE, AR - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 142 total, 54 in this make and model, 108 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19970215001609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970215001609A), Feb 15, 1997: Cessna 172C, Rogers, AR, No damage. Aircraft crashed short of runway in a ditch. (-23) on feb. 15, 1997, at 1224 CST, a CE-172, N1419Y, registered to and operated by private owner, was… 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.