# NTSB NYC05LA036: Cessna 175B, N8141T, Lawrenceburg, KY, December 31, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 31, 2004, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Lawrenceburg, KY - Coordinates: 37.949722, -85.146942 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9497&lon=-85.1469&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Louisville FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60800 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60800/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05LA036 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning and in-flight planning decision, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and a subsequent forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot estimated that he departed with about 1.5 hours of fuel on board, and that the flight time to his destination airport would take about an hour. About 35 minutes after takeoff, the airplane was in cruise flight at 2,000 feet, with the fuel selector positioned to "both," when the engine began to lose power, and the pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a field. The engine completely quit about 500 feet above the ground. During the landing, the nose gear separated, the firewall buckled, and a portion of the fuselage was wrinkled. The airplane came to rest canted to the right. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. No fuel was present in the left fuel tank, and approximately 5 gallons of clean automotive gasoline was drained from the right fuel tank. In addition, there was no evidence of a fuel spill at the accident site. According to the airplane owner's manual, the fuel system included two 26 gallon aluminum fuel tanks, with a useable fuel amount of 21 gallons from each tank, "in all flight attitudes." ## Factual narrative On December 31, 2004, about 1330 eastern standard time, a Cessna 175B, N8141T, was substantially damaged after it experienced a loss of engine power while in cruise flight, and performed a forced landing near Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The certificated commercial pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; while two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Nashville Airport (BNA), Nashville, Tennessee; destined for the Capital City Airport (FFT), Frankfort, Kentucky. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he departed FFT, with two passengers on December 29, 2004. He further stated that to keep the airplane within the weight and balance envelope, he could not carry full fuel. The pilot estimated that he departed FFT with about 33 gallons, and flew to BNA in about 2 hours. On the date of the accident, the pilot departed BNA, about 1250, with three passengers. He estimated that he departed with about 1.5 hours of fuel on board, and that the flight time to FFT would take about 1 hour. The airplane was in cruise flight at 2,000 feet, with the fuel selector positioned to "both," when the engine began to lose power, and the pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a field. The engine experienced a total loss of power about 500 feet above the ground. During the landing, the nose gear separated, the firewall buckled, and a portion of the fuselage was wrinkled. The three passengers reported that the flight was uneventful until the engine began sputtering. One passenger noted that the fuel gauges were "near E." Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The airplane came to rest canted to the right. The inspector noted that no fuel was present in the left fuel tank, and approximately 5 gallons of clean automotive gasoline was drained from the right fuel tank. In addition, there was no evidence of a fuel spill at the accident site. According to the airplane owner's manual, the fuel system included two 26 gallon aluminum fuel tanks, with a useable fuel amount of 21 gallons from each tank, "in all flight attitudes." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8141T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8141T-2005-03-28), registration cancelled 2005-03-28, S/N 17556841, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 175B - Registry model: [Cessna 175B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175b) (registry code 2072506) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17556841 - Airframe hours: 2427 - Engines: Teledyne Continental O-300D 175 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dick E. Stoops - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2004, 34 hours before - Departed: BNA, Nashville, TN - Destination: FFT, Frankfort, KY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 1,613 total, 5 in this make and model, 1,519 as pilot in command, 117 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 220° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: LEX, 25 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 20041231033609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041231033609A), Dec 31, 2004: Cessna 175B, Lawrenceburg, KY, Substantial damage. (-23) On 12-31-2004 pilot and 3 passengers departed nashville, TN (bna) VFR to frankfort KY (fft). Approximately 22 statute miles south/southwest of fft, the… ## Other investigations on N8141T (1) 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 DEN65D0101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN65D0101), May 8, 1965: Cessna 175 (N8141T), Denver, CO, substantial damage 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.