- Date
- July 17, 1997, 15:50 local (19:50 UTC)
- Place
- Napoleon, OH
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2550NCessna 120
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 15, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970717018709A
- Case key
- 39404
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to take off with inadequate fuel.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During the initial climb after takeoff, the engine lost power, and the pilot performed a forced landing. The pilot stated that the airplane did not experience any problems prior to the loss of power, and that the fuel selector valve was set to 'BOTH.' During the preflight, he visually checked the fuel gages, which incorporated a 'gray area' to indicate an inadequate fuel load for takeoff. Fuel gage indications were 'just above the gray area.' Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a fuel spill, nor any mechanical malfunction. The right fuel tank was empty, and the left fuel tank contained about 1/2 gallon of fuel.
Factual narrative
On July 17, 1997, about 1550 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 120, N2550N, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff from the Henry County Airport (OH17), Napoleon, Ohio. The certificated private pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the local flight. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he had been having trouble starting the airplane's engine when it was warm. He further stated, "My intention was to go around the pattern once, stop the engine, and see if it would start again. The plane got about 100 ft. off the ground and engine died."
During the subsequent forced landing the airplane impacted trees.
The pilot stated that he did not experience any problems with the airplane prior to the loss of engine power, and that the fuel selector valve was set to "BOTH." He also stated that during the preflight he visually checked the fuel gages, which incorporated a "gray area" to indicate an unsafe fuel load for takeoff. Fuel gage indications were "just above the gray area."
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector revealed no evidence of a fuel spill. The fuel selector was found in the off position, but had been moved by fire/rescue personnel from an unknown position. The fuel system was intact and there was no evidence of mechanical malfunction. The right fuel tank was empty, and the left fuel tank contained approximately 1/2 gallon of fuel. Both fuel gauges indicated zero.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2550N
- Reported as
- Cessna 120
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12806
- Airframe hours
- 3,616
- Engine
- Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John J Thompson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 10, 1997 · 44 hours before
- Departed
- OH17
- Airport
- OH17 · Henry County, runway 28, 4,500 × 65 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 534 total · 165 in this make and model · 468 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TOL, 16 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.