# NTSB FTW97LA108: Cessna R172K, N98DE, Brownsville, TX, February 24, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 23, 1997, 22:58 local (Feb 24, 1997, 04:58 UTC) - Place: Brownsville, TX - Coordinates: 25.959924, -97.549873 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9599&lon=-97.5499&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20162 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20162/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA108 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot reported to the police that he had attempted three approaches into Brownsville airport, and during the fourth attempt the engine lost power. The airplane landed on a road. During the landing roll the airplane struck some trees. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety Report when the trooper arrived on the scene the pilot told him that he was 'enroute from Arlington and had encountered some unexpected head winds.' The pilot stated to the officer that he had 'merely ran out of fuel.' The trooper attempted to extract a fuel sample from the fuel tanks of the airplane; however, the 'wing tanks contained no fuel.' A 'bottle containing an estimated fifty pill[s] of 10mg Valium' was found in the airplane. Several attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Report were unsuccessful. The pilot also did not return numerous phone calls from the Investigator-in-Charge. ## Factual narrative On February 23, 1997, at 2258 central standard time, a Cessna R172K, N98DE, registered to and operated by a private owner, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Brownsville, Texas. The instrument rated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. A flight plan was filed for the cross country flight that originated in Arlington, Texas, at 1800. The pilot reported to the police that he had attempted three approaches into Brownsville airport, and during the fourth attempt, the engine lost power. The airplane landed on a road. During the landing roll, the airplane struck some trees damaging a wing, the tail, and collapsing the nose landing gear. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety Report, when the trooper arrived on the scene, the pilot told him that he was "enroute from Arlington and had encountered some unexpected head winds." The pilot stated to the officer that he had "merely ran out of fuel." The trooper attempted to extract a fuel sample from the fuel tanks of the airplane; however, the "wing tanks contained no fuel." A "bottle containing an estimated fifty pill[s] of 10mg Valium" was found in the airplane. Several attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, were unsuccessful. The pilot also did not return numerous phone calls from the investigator in charge. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98DE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98DE-2018-01-16), registration cancelled 2018-01-16, S/N R1722698, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna R172K - Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R1722698 - Engines: Continental IO-360 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mobile Electronics, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: F54, ARLINGTON, TX - Destination: BRO - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/bright - Wind: 20° at 6 knots - Visibility: 1.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BRO, 3 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 19970223001809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970223001809A), Feb 23, 1997: Cessna R172K, Brownsville, TX, Substantial damage. Made three missed approachs. On fourth approach engine quit. Landed on road. Hit trees. Fuel tanks empty. (-23) Mr. Kagan was the pilot in command of Cessna… 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.