# NTSB IAD98LA030: Cessna 172, N5593E, Rutland, VT, February 26, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 26, 1998, 10:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Rutland, VT - Location: 43.4878° N, 72.9341° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from RUTLAND/SOUTHERN VERMONT RGNL (RUT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4878&lon=-72.9341&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28280 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD98LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28280/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA030 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing. Related factors were: unfavorable (headwind) conditions, and brush/small trees in the forced landing area. ## 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 - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot planned a 250 nautical mile trip at a cruise speed of 100 knots in a no wind condition. He planned for a 5 hour fuel endurance with a 45 minute reserve. The pilot filed a VFR flight plan, but did not adjust the estimated time en route for a 44 knot headwind. He checked the fuel quantity 'once or twice' during the flight and did not check the fuel quantity, when he called to extend his flight plan due to headwinds. In cruise flight at 3,000 feet, 3 to 5 miles from the destination airport, the engine sputtered. The pilot completed the engine restart procedure, but the engine only 'windmilled,' and then stopped completely. The pilot stated: 'I ran out of fuel and had to set down in a field.' The pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During approach, the airplane 'clipped' light brush and the tops of some small trees. The nose gear collapsed during the landing roll. Less than 1 gallon of fuel was recovered from the airplane. The pilot reported 112 hours of flight experience of which 24 were in make and model. ## Factual narrative On February 26, 1998, at 1010 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172, N5593E, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near the Rutland State Airport, Rutland, Vermont. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, at 0640. A visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement and telephone interview, the pilot stated he performed his flight planning February 25, 1998. The pilot said: "I planned a 250 nautical mile trip at a cruise speed of 100 knots. I planned on full fuel for a duration of 5 hours with a 45 minute reserve...Winds aloft were forecasted at 350 [degrees at] 44 [knots]. While I was on with the briefer, I filed my flight plan without changing my estimated time en route for the headwind." The pilot said the airplane was on level ground when he performed his pre-flight inspection and the fuel level appeared full. During the flight, the pilot called Flight Service to amend his flight plan. He said he was forced to extend his estimated time en route due to the strong headwind. When questioned about fuel management, the pilot responded: "En route I checked the tanks once or twice. The fuel drains faster out of the right tank. I went to the left tank until [the tanks] evened out. Then I went back to both...When I went to update the flight plan, I did not check the fuel." The pilot said he was in cruise flight at 3,000 feet, 3 to 5 miles from the Rutland State airport, when the engine sputtered. He said he completed the engine restart procedure, but the engine only "windmilled," and then stopped completely. The pilot further stated: "I ran out of fuel and had to set down in a field." The pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During approach, the airplane "clipped" light brush and the tops of some small trees. The nose gear then collapsed during the landing roll. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector reported that less than 1 gallon of fuel was recovered from the wreckage. The pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. He reported a total flight experience of 112 hours, of which 24 hours were in make and model. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5593E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5593E-2013-08-20), registration cancelled 2013-08-20, S/N 17271895, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271895 - Airframe hours: 5936 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D25 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Airways Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 25, 1998, 3 hours before - Departed: LNS, LANCASTER, PA - Destination: RUT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: RUT, Rutland State, runway 1, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 112 total, 24 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 12 knots, gusting 27 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RUT, 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 19980226023659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980226023659A), Feb 26, 1998: Cessna 172N, Rutland, VT, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel landed short of destination rut. Clipped tree tops. Landed in brush. Folded nosed gear. Headwinds. (-23) aircraft departed lanaster, pa with… ## Other investigations on N5593E (2) 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 CHI01LA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA303), Sep 1, 2001: Cessna 172N (N5593E), Sheldon, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the in-flight planning/decision and proper touchdown point not attained by the pilot. Contributing factors were the ingested exhaust valve and lack of experience of the pilot. - [NTSB NYC80DHA03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC80DHA03), Jan 6, 1980: Cessna 172N (N5593E), Reading, PA, substantial damage 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.