# NTSB NYC05CA003: Cessna 172M, N80657, Eliot, ME, October 9, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 9, 2004, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Eliot, ME - Coordinates: 43.1725, -70.798889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1725&lon=-70.7989&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60305 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05CA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60305/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05CA003 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning decision, which resulted a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The airplane was inbound for landing when the engine began to alternately lose and gain power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a corn field, and the airplane's nose gear, and both wings were damaged. Examination of the airplane revealed no visible fuel in both of the airplane's fuel tanks. When the fuel line from carburetor was removed, it yielded, "a few drops of fuel." In addition, there was no evidence of a fuel spill in the area surrounding the accident site. The airplane's fuel system contained 38 gallons of useable fuel, and the airplane had been operated for 4.4 hours since it was last refueled. ## Factual narrative On October 9, 2004, about 0930 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172M, N80657, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Eliot, Maine. The certificated private pilot, and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Bar Harbor, Maine, about 0740. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Pat 91. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he intended to land at Skyhaven Airport (DAW), in Rochester, New Hampshire; however, he observed a layer of clouds about 200 to 400 feet above the ground, near the airport. The pilot elected to remain in the area for about 10 minutes, and did not observe any change in the cloud layer. He then elected to land at Pease International Airport (PSM), Portsmouth, New Hampshire; which was located about 14 miles south-southeast of DAW. While en route, the engine began to alternately lose and gain power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a corn field. During the landing, the nose gear separated, and both wings were damaged. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no visible fuel in both of the airplane's fuel tanks. When the fuel line from carburetor was removed, it yielded, "a few drops of fuel." In addition, there was no evidence of a fuel spill in the area surrounding the accident site. The airplane's Hobbs time at the accident site was 2728.0. The pilot did not add any fuel to the airplane prior to his flight. According to the airplane's owner and the rental log, the airplane had been operated for 4.4 hours since it was last refueled. The airplane's fuel system capacity included 38 gallons of useable fuel. The pilot reported 1,200 hours of total flight experience, which included 300 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80657](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80657), registered now, S/N 17266693, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17266693 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ossipee Valley Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BHB, Bar Harbor, ME - Destination: DAW, Rochester, NH - Airport: PSM, Pease International Tradeport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 29, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 1,200 total, 300 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: SFM, 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 20041009034449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041009034449A), Oct 9, 2004: Cessna 172M, Eliot, ME, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] rented the aircraft with 1.1 hours since being topped off ossipee valley aviation. He flew from daw (skyhaven) to bhb… 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.