# NTSB NYC97LA032: Cessna 172RG, N4829V, Stamford, CT, December 21, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 20, 1996, 20:15 local (Dec 21, 1996, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Stamford, CT - Location: 41.0534° N, 73.5387° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Stamford, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0534&lon=-73.5387&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39311 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39311/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA032 ## Probable cause inadequate preflight by the pilot, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, due to an inadequate fuel supply of fuel. Darkness and trees in the emergency landing area were related factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot departed at night on a cross-country flight. After the airplane had climbed to 3,500 feet and had leveled about 8 miles from the airport, the engine lost power. The pilot selected a lighted street for a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane collided with trees and was damaged. The pilot did not verify the airplane's fuel load before he departed on the cross-country flight. The airplane had been flown 5.3 hours since the last refueling. Examination of the airplane did not disclose evidence of a mechanical malfunction. No usable fuel was found in the airplane's fuel system, and there was no evidence of a fuel spill. According to the airplane's information manual, the maximum time endurance, at 75 percent power, was about 5.3 hours. ## Factual narrative On December 20, 1996, about 2015 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172RG, N4829V, was destroyed when it impacted trees during a forced landing near Stamford, Connecticut. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed the Westchester County Airport, White Plains, New York, about 2000, destined for Theodore Francis Green State, Providence, Rhode Island. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that shortly after departure, the engine started running rough. Emergency procedures were performed by the pilot; however, the engine continued to lose power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a road. Examination of the wreckage by the NTSB IIC revealed that both wing fuel tanks were ruptured. There was no evidence of a fuel spill, and the carburetor fuel lines were absent of fuel. Examination of the engine by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector revealed no evidence of malfunctions. Also, the FAA Inspector reported that during a telephone interview with the pilot, the pilot stated that he did not know what the fuel load was prior to departure. According to residence of the area and local authorities, at the accident scene, immediately following the accident, there was no odor or evidence of fuel. The refueling records and the tachometer reading at the accident site revealed that the airplane had been operated for 5.3 hours, by the accident pilot, since the last refueling on December 8, 1996. According to the Airplane's Information Manual (AIM), the total usable fuel capacity was 62 gallons. The AIM further stated that for cruise, at 75 percent power, the flight endurance was 5.3 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4829V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4829V-2013-03-18), registration cancelled 2013-03-18, S/N 172RG0394, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172RG - Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172RG0394 - Airframe hours: 4448 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Coporate Air Charter - Registered owner: Fred T Perry - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 1996, 40 hours before - Departed: HPN, WHITE PLAINS, NY - Destination: PVD, PROVIDENCE, RI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 515 total, 46 in this make and model, 473 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 290° at 10 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HPN, 15 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 19961220039709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961220039709A), Dec 20, 1996: Cessna 172RG, Stanford, CT, Destroyed. Shortly after departure engine quit tried for road. Crash landed. Fuel tanks empty. Took off on night trip low fuel 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.