# NTSB NYC08CA042: Cessna 172N, N172MG, Hamilton, NJ, November 21, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 21, 2007, 00:01 local (05:01 UTC)
- Place: Hamilton, NJ
- Coordinates: 39.485, -74.738334
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4850&lon=-74.7383&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67147
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67147/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA042

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate fuel consumption calculations which resulted in 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
  - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

The pilot of the Cessna 172N stated the airplane was in cruise flight when the engine sputtered, and stopped producing power.  The pilot then performed a forced landing to trees, resulting in substantial damage, but neither he nor the two passengers were injured.  The pilot said he immediately egressed the airplane, checked both fuel tanks, and found both were empty.  Examination of the fuel tanks by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed they were intact, and no evidence of fuel, fuel spillage, or fuel odor was identified at the scene.  The pilot stated that he departed his home airport with full tanks earlier in the day and recorded 3.2 hours on the hobbs meter.  Several stops were made during the day, which involved six takeoffs and climbs to altitude.  In a written statement, the pilot added, "Physically checking the fuel tanks for fuel, instead of relying on [the] hobbs meter and an assumed gallons per hour fuel consumption rate, could have prevented this accident."

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the Cessna 172N stated the airplane was in cruise flight when the engine sputtered, and stopped producing power.  The pilot then performed a forced landing to trees, resulting in substantial damage, but neither he nor the two passengers were injured.  The pilot said he immediately egressed the airplane, checked both fuel tanks, and found both were empty.  Examination of the fuel tanks by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed they were intact, and no evidence of fuel, fuel spillage, or fuel odor was identified at the scene.  The pilot stated he departed his home airport with full tanks earlier in the day and recorded 3.2 hours on the hobbs meter.  Several stops were made during the day, which involved six takeoffs and climbs to altitude.  In a written statement, the pilot added, "Physically checking the fuel tanks for fuel, instead of relying on [the] hobbs meter and an assumed gallons per hour fuel consumption rate, could have prevented this accident."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N172MG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N172MG-2012-10-15), registration cancelled 2012-10-15, S/N 17268088 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17268088
- Engines: Avco Lycoming O-360 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: ENS Aire, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 26N, OCEAN CITY, NJ
- Destination: 17N, CROSS KEYS, NJ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 88 total, 10 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20071121829599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071121829599A), Nov 21, 2007: Cessna 172N, Hamilton Twnsh, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft ran out of fuel.

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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