# NTSB MIA08CA028: Cessna 172E, N3699S, Fair Bluff, NC, December 9, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 9, 2007, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Fair Bluff, NC - Coordinates: 34.259723, -79.020835 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2597&lon=-79.0208&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 March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Greensboro FSDO-05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 67223 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08CA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67223/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA028 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which failed to detect contaminated fuel, and subsequent 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(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system - contamination,water - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he owned the airplane for quite some time, and that it had been "sitting" on the field since 2004. He said that he stopped taking flying lessons, and decided to sell the airplane. He said on the day of the accident, he "washed the airplane" and "sumped the fuel tanks." While sumping the tanks, he noted that about a ½ cup of water drained from the left and right fuel tanks. He decided to start the airplane and take it up for 1-touch and go. During his initial climb out the engine began to lose power. Shortly thereafter, he "pushed the throttle forward, and the engine revved up and then stopped." At that point, he made a left turn towards the field and landed in heavy brush. He said that as he exited the airplane it "caught on fire" and he was unable to extinguish it. During the telephone interview with the pilot he said that "he did not get all of the water out of tanks." ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he owned the airplane for quite some time, and that it has been "sitting" on the field since 2004. He said that he stopped taking flying lessons, and decided to sell the airplane. He said on the day of the accident, he "washed the airplane" and "sumped the fuel tanks." While sumping the tanks, he noted that about a ½ cup of water drained from the left and right fuel tanks. He decided to start the airplane and take it up for 1-touch and go. During his initial climb out the engine began to lose power. Shortly thereafter, he "pushed the throttle forward, and the engine revved up and then stopped." At that point, he made a left turn towards the field and landed in heavy brush. He said that as he exited the airplane it "caught on fire" and he was unable to extinguish it. During the telephone interview with the pilot he said that "he did not get all of the water out of tanks." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3699S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3699S-2017-06-30), registration cancelled 2017-06-30, S/N 17250899, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172E - Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17250899 - Airframe hours: 5647 - Engines: Continental O-300 170 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William H. Strickland - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2007, 181 hours before - Departed: 89NC, Fair Bluff, NC - Airport: 89NC, Strickland Field Airport, runway 5, 2,642 × 118 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 100 total, 100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: CPC, 15 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 20071209828449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071209828449A), Dec 9, 2007: Cessna 172E, Fair Bluff, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) He stated that he did find water in the fuel on preflight. He had not flown the aircraft since the annual. He washed the aircraft and sumped it, ran it,… 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.