- Date
- February 10, 1982, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Plymouth, MA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N84330Cessna 172K
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 10, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820210003139A
- Case key
- 72262
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After entering the traffic pattern, the pilot completed his prelanding checklist while opposite of the numbers on downwind. After turning to final approach, there was a loss of engine power. He stated that he reached down and switched the fuel selector without looking at it while attempting to restart the engine. With winds gusting to 20 knots, he was unable to glide to the runway. He maneuvered to align the aircraft with the direction and contour of a road for landing. However, during the landing, the wing tips struck small trees. After the mishap, the fuel selector was found in the off position. The pilot did not remember turning it off. The engine ran normally during a subsequent operational check. The engine was tested to see how long it would run after the fuel selector was turned off. At 2100 RPM, it continued operating for about 45 seconds. At 1200 to 1500 RPM, it continued running about 70 seconds.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N84330
- Reported as
- Cessna 172K
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17258421
- Airframe hours
- 3,114
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Dale Bessey
- Registered owner
- Dale Bessey
- Departed
- New Bedford, MA
- Destination
- Plymouth, MA
- Airport
- PYM · Plymouth County, runway 33, 2,500 × 60 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 509 total · 230 in this make and model · 340 as pilot in command · 28 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Temperature
- 95 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N84330 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.