# NTSB MIA85LA018: Cessna 172P, N54729, Titusville, FL, October 26, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 26, 1984, 18:25 local (22:25 UTC)
- Place: Titusville, FL
- Coordinates: 28.579563, -80.81958 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5796&lon=-80.8196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31309
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85LA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31309/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA018

## 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 - exhaustion (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT LANDED IN A FIELD AFTER EXPERIENCING AN ENG FAILURE IN CRUISE FLT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACCIDENT OCCURREDON THE RETURN LEG OF A X-COUNTRY FLT. THE PLT STATED HE VISUALLY CHECKED THE ACFT FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND ESTIMATED AMPLE FUEL ABOARD FOR THE FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54729](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54729-2012-08-22), registration cancelled 2012-08-22, S/N 17275040 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275040
- Airframe hours: 2005
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Orlando Aero Club Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 13, 1984, 42 hours before
- Departed: 49J, HILTON HEAD, SC
- Destination: MLB, MELBOURNE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 516 total, 66 in this make and model, 453 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MLB, 45 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 19841026060799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841026060799A), Oct 26, 1984: Cessna 172P, Titusville, FL, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on an IFR flight. Landed in a field. Failed to assure proper fuel reserve for the flight.

## Other investigations on N54729 (2)

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.

- [NTSB MIA01LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA024), Nov 4, 2000: Cessna 172P (N54729), Inverness, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of directional control on landing due to the pilot's failure to execute a proper flare and recovery from the resultant bounced landing, causing the airplane to depart the runway, enter the…
- [NTSB MIA94LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA068), Feb 6, 1994: Cessna 172P (N54729), Orlando, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO FOLLOW INSTUCTIONS GIVEN BY GROUND CONTROL AND THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN PROPER OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE BETWEEN AIRCRAFT.

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.

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