# NTSB NYC93LA171: Cessna 172, N90441, Phillips, ME, August 22, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 22, 1993, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Phillips, ME - Location: 44.8231° N, 70.3395° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Phillips, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8231&lon=-70.3395&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38644 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38644/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA171 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND INFLIGHT DECISION WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE WAS AT AN ALTITUDE OF 2000 FEET , 2 MILES NORTH OF PHILLIPS AIRPORT, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT TRIED TO FORCE LAND AT THE AIRPORT, BUT THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE ABOUT 200 YARDS SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL WAS ABOARD AT TAKEOFF; HOWEVER, HE NOTED THE FUEL QUANTITY GAGES WERE NEAR EMPTY. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. ## Factual narrative On Sunday, August 22, 1993, at about 1245 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N90441, piloted by Mr. Leon Ross, collided with a tree during a forced landing near Phillips, Maine. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and the two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot did not make a statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2. According to the FAA, the pilot stated that the airplane's engine lost total power approximately 2 miles north of the Phillips, Maine Airport, at an approximate altitude of 2000 feet. The pilot attempted to make a landing at the Phillips Airport, but landed about 200 yards east of the airport on the southeast side of Route 4, and impacted with a tree. According to the FAA: "...Mr. Ross [pilot] stated he had fueled the aircraft with 10 gallons of autogas on Saturday, August 21, 1993, and flown approximately one half hour on that day...he fueled the aircraft with another 10 gallons of autogas on Sunday, August 22, 1993. Mr. Ross stated that he flew approximately 3 hours on Sunday... According to the FAA the pilot did not know how much fuel was on board the airplane at takeoff, but said, "...when he took off the fuel gauges were reading just above the red line. The FAA examined the fuel tanks while the airplane was resting in a 45 degree nose down angle, using a stick to determine fuel levels. According to the FAA, "...both tanks showed fuel at the 2-3 inch mark." The fuel line from the gascolator was disconnected, and according to the FAA, "...small droplets of fuel emerged...the gascolator revealed a small to medium pool of fuel." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90441](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90441-2015-04-30), registration cancelled 2015-04-30, S/N 17256642, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172i) (registry code 2072426) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17256642 - Airframe hours: 6170 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Leon Ross - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 14, 1992, 35 hours before - Departed: 10M, ME - Destination: 10M, ME - Airport: 10M, Raymond, runway 13, 2,300 × 90 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 650 total, 16 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19930822030039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930822030039A), Aug 22, 1993: Cessna 172P, Phillips, ME, Substantial damage. Took off with fuel gauges on red line. Engine quit. Struck tree on forced landing. Fuel unporting and or exhaustion 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.