# NTSB MIA03LA078: Cessna 172P, N89811, Potts Camp, MS, March 21, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 21, 2003, 17:09 local (23:09 UTC) - Place: Potts Camp, MS - Coordinates: 34.633335, -89.300003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6333&lon=-89.3000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56687 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56687/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA078 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a forced landing to a field, and damage to the airplane during the landing rollout. ## 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 - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - fence ## Analysis The pilot stated that while en route to his fuel stop, about 5 minutes prior to the accident, while scanning the airplane instruments, he was surprised to see that the fuel gauges were indicating below the 5-gallon mark for each tank. After monitoring the gauges, and seeing them stabilize, he said he again started to feel confident in his calculations. About 14 miles south of Holly Springs, Mississippi, in the vicinity of Potts Camp, Mississippi, he said the engine ceased operating. He said he established the best glide speed, while looking for and selecting a field where he could execute a forced landing. As the airplane was descending he attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. After maneuvering to avoid wires, he landed the airplane in the field, and during the landing rollout the airplane's nose wheel became entangled in a wire fence, and the airplane was damaged. An FAA inspector responded to the accident scene, and noted that no fuel was present in the airplane. After recovery from the field, an FAA licensed airframe and power plant mechanic, under the supervision of the FAA inspector, conducted an examination of the airplane, and no anomalies were found. When fuel was provided, and the damaged propeller replaced, the airplane's engine was tested and it operated normally. ## Factual narrative On March 21, 2003, about 1709 central standard time, a Cessna 172P, N89811, registered to and operated by the Pensacola Navy Flying Club, Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, incurred a loss of engine power, while in cruise flight in the vicinity of Potts Camp, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot and two passengers received no injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Pensacola, Florida, the same day, about 1435. The pilot stated that he planned the flight from Pensacola, Florida, to Olive Branch, Mississippi, examining the weather, and was prepared to make one of three fuel stops, depending on the actual winds aloft. He said that after having planned the flight at home, he then stopped by the Pensacola Navy Flying Club, about 1200, to ensure the airplane would be available for the flight. At that time, he said he checked the fuel level, and determined that the airplane was full of fuel. He said he then went home filed a VFR flight plan, checked the weather again, and returned to the airplane at 1400, along with his wife and son. He said he then performed a thorough preflight inspection, observed the fuel level again, and once again determined that he did not need to call the fixed-base operator, Pensacola Aviation Inc., for fuel. He said the remaining preparations, as well as the taxi, takeoff, and initial cruise phases were normal. About 5 minutes prior to the accident, while scanning the airplane instruments, the pilot said he was surprised to find that the fuel gauges were indicating below the 5-gallon mark for each tank. After monitoring the gauges, and seeing them stabilize, he again said he started to feel confident in his calculations. He calculated his position, and prepared for a landing at Holly Springs, Mississippi, and about 14 miles south of Holly Springs, in the vicinity of Potts Camp, Mississippi, he said the engine ceased operating. He said he established best glide speed, while looking for and selecting a field where he could execute a forced landing. He further stated that as the airplane was descending he attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. During the approach to the field he had selected, he noticed utility wires, and maneuvered to avoid them, and was able to land, but during the landing rollout the airplane's nose wheel became entangled in a wire fence, and the airplane slid, coming to rest in a small ditch, incurring damage. An FAA inspector responded to the accident and noted that no fuel was present in the airplane. After recovery from the field, an FAA licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic, under the supervision of the inspector, conducted an examination of the airframe and engine, and no anomalies were found. When fuel was provided, and the damaged propeller replaced, the engine operated normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89811](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N89811), registered now, S/N 17276013, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172-76013 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pensacola Navy Flying Club Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 30, 2003, 49 hours before - Departed: PNS, Pensacola, FL - Destination: M42, Holly Springs, MS - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 52 total, 8 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 5 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: OLV ## 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 20030321003289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030321003289A), Mar 21, 2003: Cessna 172P, Potts Camp, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) Airplane ran out of fuel and was forced to make an emergency landing in a field. Damage to nose landing gear, propeller, and firewall. 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.