# NTSB MIA03LA176: Cessna 172F, N8578U, Fajardo, PR, September 1, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 2003, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Fajardo, PR - Coordinates: 18.307777, -65.661666 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.3078&lon=-65.6617&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 57858 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57858/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA176 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate aircraft preflight resulting in the airplane being operated with water contamination in the fuel system, and the loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system - contamination,water - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted, pilot in command - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - high vegetation - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis According to the pilot, after taking off, at an altitude of about 300 feet, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot performed a 180-degree turn back to the runway, but due to the low altitude was unable to reach the runway. He elected to land in a field about 1/2 mile from the runway. The pilot explained it had been close to 3 weeks since the airplane had last been flown. He said he drained large quantities of water from both the left and right wing fuel tank sump ports. He fueled the airplane with a total of about 29 gallons of 100 LL aviation fuel and drained a total of a gallon of fuel from both wing tanks, with "no" indication of water in the fuel. The individual who recovered the airplane from the field stated when up righting the engine, a noticeable amount of water poured out of the carburetor. An Airframe and Power plant mechanic stated to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector that when the carburetor bowl drain plug was removed, only water came out of it, no fuel at all. At the time of the accident no water was utilized at the seen. Weather reports support that there was no rain in the area between the accident and the time the airplane was removed from the farm. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 2003, about 1130 Atlantic standard time, a Cessna 172F, N8578U, owned and operated by an individual, lost engine power, and impacted with the ground during a forced landing, near Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airline transport-rated pilot reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time. According to the pilot's written report, after taking off at an altitude of about 300 feet the airplane's engine lost power. He elected to performed a power off landing in a cane field, the nose wheel of the airplane got caught in a ditch which resulted in the airplane coming to a stop upside down. A witness stated he watched N8578U take off, and was climbing out when he heard the engine "sputter about two times". The airplane continued to climb before the engine "quit". He observed the airplane bank left and right several times before making a "sharp" left turn about 180 degrees. He lost site of the airplane just before it hit the ground, as he reached the accident site he observed a man getting out of the upside down airplane. In a phone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge a couple of days after the accident, the pilot explained it had been close to 3 weeks since the airplane had been flown. He went on to explain, that he drained large quantities of water from both the left and right wing fuel tank sump ports. He fueled the airplane with a total of about 29 gallons of 100 LL aviation fuel and drained a total of a gallon of fuel from both wing tanks again with "no" indication of water in the fuel. He also stated, the engine run up check prior to takeoff went "uneventful". The individual who recovered the airplane from the field stated he removed the engine and wings from the fuselage to facilitate transportation of the airplane, when up righting the engine, a noticeable amount of water poured out of the carburetor. An airframe and powerplant mechanic stated to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector that when the carburetor bowl drain plug was removed, only water came out of it, no fuel at all. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector stated that the pilot said after loss of engine power, he maneuvered the airplane 180 degrees in an attempt to return to the runway. Due to the low altitude, he was forced to land in a nearby farm. At the time of the accident no water was utilized at the seen. Weather reports support that there was no rain in the area between the accident and the time the airplane was removed from the farm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8578U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8578U-2013-05-14), registration cancelled 2013-05-14, S/N 17252478, 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: 17252478 - Airframe hours: 2247 - Engines: Continental O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 2003, 49 hours before - Departed: TJFA, Fajardo, PR - Airport: TJFA, Diego Jimenez Torres, runway 8, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 30, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 21,642 total, 30 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: TJSJ, 21 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 20030901026139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030901026139A), Sep 1, 2003: Cessna 172F, Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Destroyed. (-23) On September 1, 2003, at approximately 1130(LCL), a Cessna model 172-F N8578U crashed on a field near the Fajardo airport ten minutes after take-off.… 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.