# NTSB LAX04CA024: Cessna 172N, N738YL, Fresno, CA, October 25, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 25, 2003, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Fresno, CA - Coordinates: 36.732223, -119.819725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7322&lon=-119.8197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 58243 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58243/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA024 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power. Also causal was the pilot's failure to follow engine out emergency procedures as defined by the pilot operating handbook. ## 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 - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The engine lost engine power during flight and the airplane nosed over during an emergency landing in a field. The pilot reported that after an uneventful departure, he was en route when the engine lost power. He applied carburetor heat and placed the mixture in the full forward position. He turned toward a nearby airport while attempting restart procedures; the engine was unresponsive. While on final, the pilot realized that he was not going to make the airport and landed the airplane in a field. As the main wheels touched down, the airplane nosed over. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. An FAA inspector examined the airplane and found the fuel selector on the left tank. Approximately 1/2 gallon of fuel was recovered from the left fuel tank; approximately 20 gallons of fuel were recovered from the right tank. After the engine failure, the pilot did not switch fuel tanks. The pilot operating handbook for the Cessna 172N states that in the event of an engine failure, the pilot should move the fuel selector valve into the "BOTH" position. ## Factual narrative On October 25, 2003, at 1300 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N7387YL, lost engine power during flight and made an emergency landing near Fresno Chandler Airport (FCH), Fresno, California. Carter Flygare, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Visalia Municipal Airport (VIS), Visalia, California, at 1230, and was en route to Sacramento Executive Airport (SAC), Sacramento, California. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. In a written statement, the pilot reported that after an uneventful departure, he was en route to Sacramento when the engine lost power. He applied carburetor heat and placed the mixture in the full forward position. He reported the engine power loss to Fresno Approach and requested to land at the nearest airport. He turned toward the airport while attempting restart procedures; the engine was unresponsive. While on final, the pilot realized that he was not going to make the airport and landed the airplane in a field. As the main wheels touched down, the airplane nosed over. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the fuel selector was on the left tank during the recovery. Approximately 1/2 gallon of fuel was recovered from the left fuel tank; approximately 20 gallons of fuel were recovered from the right tank. After the engine failure, the pilot did not switch fuel tanks. The pilot operating handbook for the Cessna 172N states that in the event of an engine failure, the pilot should move the fuel selector valve into the "BOTH" position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N738YL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N738YL), registered now, S/N 17270341, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - 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: 17270341 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Carter Flying, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: FCH, Fresno Chandler, CA - Destination: SAC, Sacramento, CA - Airport: FCH, Fresno Chandler ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; flight hours: 276 total, 39 in this make and model, 39 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20031025026659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031025026659A), Oct 25, 2003: Cessna 172N, Fresno, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 25, 2003 the flight originated in smf at CFI aviation. The commercial pilot, ilya ivanyuk flew with his student to visalia and dropped him… 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.