# NTSB NYC87DNC08: Cessna R172K, N4673K, Cantebury, NH, July 17, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: July 16, 1987, 21:35 local (Jul 17, 1987, 01:35 UTC)
- Place: Cantebury, NH
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30454
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87DNC08
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30454/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87DNC08

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

A LOCAL CFI HEARD THE PLT TRANSMIT OVER THE UNICOM FREQ THAT HE WAS 'NORTH OF THE AIRPORT AT 1100 FT & OUT OF GAS, SO I GUESS I'M GOING TO CRASH.'  ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE PLT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.  THE CFI FLEW NORTH OF THE AIRPORT & LOCATED THE PLANE WHERE IT HAD CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA. RECORDS INDICATED THE ACFT HAD FLOWN ABOUT 4.3 HRS SINCE IT WAS LAST REFUELED. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE ACFT DURING A POST-ACDNT EXAM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4673K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4673K-1991-04-17), registration cancelled 1991-04-17, S/N R1722007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R172K
- Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R1722007
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-KB 195 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert W. Custance
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 18, 1986, 81 hours before
- Departed: BED, BEDFORD, MA
- Destination: LCI, LACONIA, NH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 844 total, 640 in this make and model, 805 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CON, 6 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 19870716034839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870716034839A), Jul 16, 1987: Cessna R172K, Cantebury, NH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft was out of fuel. Collided with trees then impacted the ground on the force 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.