# NTSB GAA16CA483: Cessna 172, N5283R, Covington, GA, September 12, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 11, 2016, 23:57 local (Sep 12, 2016, 03:57 UTC) - Place: Covington, GA - Coordinates: 33.611946, -83.730003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6119&lon=-83.7300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94007 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA483 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94007/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94007 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA483 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 720 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,696 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) - [Convective weather: thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 10,154 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a night visual meteorological condition flight, he was receiving flight following from air traffic control and had to divert around convective weather. The pilot further reported that about 7 nautical miles from his destination airport, the fuel supply was exhausted and the engine lost power. The pilot was able to touchdown on an interstate, but during the landing roll the right wing struck a sign. The right wing sustained substantial damage. During a postaccident interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that he was aware of the weather en-route, but he did not anticipate the length of diversion he received from air traffic control. The pilot reported that he should have departed with full fuel. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during a night visual meteorological condition flight, he was receiving flight following from air traffic control and had to divert around convective weather. The pilot further reported that about 7 nautical miles from his destination airport, the fuel supply was exhausted and the engine lost power. The pilot was able to touchdown on an interstate, but during the landing roll the right wing struck a sign. The right wing sustained substantial damage. During a postaccident interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that he was aware of the weather en-route, but he did not anticipate the length of diversion he received from air traffic control. The pilot reported that he should have departed with full fuel. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5283R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5283R), registered now, S/N 17263497, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (M) - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17263497 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 5725 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Flight Train Monroe LLC. - Registered owner: Flight Train Monroe LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 28, 2016 - Departed: VLD, VALDOSTA, GA - Destination: D73, MONROE, GA - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Onboard weather, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 3, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 146 total, 140 in this make and model, 146 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KCVC, 4 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 20160911017399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160911017399A), Sep 11, 2016: Cessna 172M, Covington, GA, Substantial damage. Inspector received call from the roc approximately 2300, and arrived at scene at approximately 0100 the pilots mission was to travel from valdosta (vld) to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94007. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446154&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446155&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446156&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF 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.