# NTSB MIA01LA139: Cessna 172F, N8664U, Fort Pierce, FL, May 6, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 6, 2001, 15:55 local (19:55 UTC) - Place: Fort Pierce, FL - Coordinates: 27.495, -80.368057 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4950&lon=-80.3681&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52202 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52202/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA139 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion which resulted in a forced landing, and subsequent impact with a sign and a ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - lack of total experience, pilot in command - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot added 10 gallons of fuel at Key West. He was told that the airplane burned 8 gallons of fuel per hour by senior members of his flying club. After 2 hours 40 minutes of flight the engine quit. He executed an emergency landing on a road and clipped a street sign with the wing. The airplane then went into a ditch, about 3 miles south of his intended landing airport. No fuel was found in the airplane's fuel tanks and no leaks were found. The pilot reported that he had a total 106 flight hours in all aircraft, and 48.8 hours in this make and model aircraft. ## Factual narrative On May 6, 2001, about 1555 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172F, N8664U, registered to 908 Flying Club, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, lost power, and the pilot attempted a forced landing on a road, near Fort Pierce, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private rated-pilot, and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight had departed from Key West International Airport, Florida, at 1320. The pilot told NTSB and FAA investigators that he added 10 gallons of fuel at Key West. He was told that the airplane burned 8 gallons of fuel per hour. According to the pilot's statement, "...fuel burn information was determined by senior members of 908 Flying Club. After 2 hours 40 minutes of flight the engine quite. I executed an emergency landing on the road and clipped a street sign with the wing. The plan spun into ditch." He said he ran out of gas about 3 miles south of his intended landing airport. No fuel was found in the airplane's fuel tanks and no leaks were found. According to the FAA inspector's statement, "...when the police arrived they...checked the fuel tanks. [They] stated the tanks appeared empty. [The FAA inspector] could not see any fuel in the tanks and there was no indication that any fuel had leaked...I asked [the pilot] if he noticed what the fuel gauges were reading prior to the engine quitting, and he said one had been showing completely empty, and one was bouncing between empty and 1/4 full...no other reason for the engine to stop could be found." The pilot reported that he had a total 106 flight hours in all aircraft, and 48.8 hours in this make and model aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8664U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8664U-2001-11-02), registration cancelled 2001-11-02, S/N 17252567, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172F - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17252567 - Airframe hours: 6247.82 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: 908 Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 2001, 25 hours before - Departed: EYW, KEY WEST, FL - Destination: FORT PIERCE, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: FPR, Saint Lucie County, runway 09, 6,492 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 22, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 106 total, 49 in this make and model, 65 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 11 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: FPR, 3 nm away 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.