# NTSB NYC90LA080: Cessna CE-172P, N62274, Hollidaysburg, PA, March 24, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 24, 1990, 18:55 local (23:55 UTC)
- Place: Hollidaysburg, PA
- Location: 40.4311° N, 78.3930° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hollidaysburg, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4311&lon=-78.3930&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 21, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36621
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90LA080
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36621/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA080

## Probable cause

PILOT FACTOR IN THAT HE FAILED TO ENSURE THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FUEL ON BOARD TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT. THIS RESULTED IN AN ENGINE FAILURE & 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 - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT RECEIVED A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND USING THE WINDS ALOFT HE CALCULATED HOW LONG THE FLIGHT WOULD TAKE TO ARRIVE AT HIS DESTINATION AND HOW MUCH FUEL WOULD BE NEEDED. HE CHECKED THE TANKS VISUALLY. THE PILOT SAID WHEN ABOUT 15 MILES OUT FROM JOHNSTOWN, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND THEN IT QUIT. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN A GRASS FIELD AND THE LEFT WING CONTACTED A TREE ROTATING THE AIRCRAFT ABOUT T 130 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE TANKS AND THERE WERE NO LEAKS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62274](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62274-2016-11-30), registration cancelled 2016-11-30, S/N 17275240 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA CE-172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275240
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Van Bortel Aircraft
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LWM, LAWRENCE, MA
- Destination: JST, JOHNSTOWN, PA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,030 total, 361 in this make and model, 920 as pilot in command, 69 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °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 19900324005299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900324005299A), Mar 24, 1990: Cessna 172P, Hollidaysburg, PA, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel en route. On landing overshot large grass field and hit a tree. Gas gauges correctly read empty.

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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