# NTSB NYC84LA001: Cessna 172, N66162, Eppingham, NH, October 2, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 2, 1983, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Eppingham, NH
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35447
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84LA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35447/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84LA001

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - fluid,fuel - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ENROUTE TO NORTH CONWAY, NH WITH ABOUT 10 GAL. OF FUEL ON BOARD HE HAD TO ALTER COURSE TO THE SOUTHEAST TO FIND A HOLE TO DROP UNDER CLOUDS AND AVOID THE MOUNTAINS. HE COULD NOT IDENTIFY AND LAND MARKS AND LOST CONTACT WITH THE AUGUSTA AND KENNYBUNK VORS DUE TO LOW ALTITUDE. HE REALIZED HE WAS LOST AND DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUEL TO CLIMB UP TO GET A VOR FIX ON HIS LOCATION. THE FUEL GAUGES WERE INDICATING EMPTY SO THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY LOOKED FOR A SUITABLE FORCED LANDING SITE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N66162](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66162-2000-04-04), registration cancelled 2000-04-04, S/N 17275973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275973
- Airframe hours: 90
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Julie Copper
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 1983
- Departed: BETHEL, ME
- Destination: NO. CONWAY, NH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 110 total, 78 in this make and model, 53 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F

## 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 19831002052809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831002052809A), Oct 2, 1983: Cessna 172P, Eppingham, NH, Substantial damage. Pilot became lost because of weather and engine quit from fuel exhaustion during emergency landing.

## Other investigations on N66162 (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 NYC99LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA086), Apr 2, 1999: Cessna 172P (N66162), Lawrence, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper flare, and his improper recover from a bounced landing.

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.