# NTSB NYC97LA150: Cessna 172E, N3553S, Fitchburg, MA, July 22, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 1997, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Fitchburg, MA - Location: 42.5538° N, 71.7592° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FITCHBURG MUNI (FIT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5538&lon=-71.7592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39406 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39406/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA150 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - powerplant - undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The pilot performed a preflight inspection and observed the fuel tanks were half empty. After an uneventful local flight, the pilot departed for another flight. During the initial climb after takeoff, about 75 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing, and the airplane came to rest left wing low. Examination of the wreckage revealed 7 gallons of uncontaminated automotive gasoline in the left fuel tank, and no fuel in the right tank. The fuel selector valve was found in the 'both' position, and the left fuel cap was found open. The pilot could not recall if he secured it properly during his preflight inspection. Additionally, the engine was test run satisfactorily using fuel that was drained from the airplane. The airplane's total fuel capacity was 39 gallons, of which 36 was usable. It was last refueled 8 months prior to the accident with 28.2 gallons of automotive gasoline. The airplane had been flown for 3/10 of an hour on a ferry flight for an annual inspection, 4 days prior to the accident, and had accumulated 1.38 hours since the annual inspection. According to the owner's manual, fuel consumption in cruise flight at 75% power at 2,500 feet was 8.5 gallons per hour. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 1997, about 1545 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172E, N3553S, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff from the Fitchburg Municipal Airport (FIT), Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight destined for the Sterling Airport (3B3), Sterling, Massachusetts. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection on the airplane earlier that day and observed that the fuel tanks were half empty. He then departed FIT, and conducted an uneventful round trip flight to the Minute Man Airfield (6B6), Stow, Massachusetts, about 10 miles southeast of FIT. The pilot then intended to depart FIT destined for 3B3, about 8 miles to the southwest; however, during the initial climb after takeoff from runway 32, "...at an altitude of approximately 75 feet, the engine stopped suddenly," and he performed a forced landing to the remaining runway. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the airplane impacted the departure runway on a heading 90 degrees to the runway, in a left bank, nose low attitude. The airplane came to rest 200 feet off the left side of the runway, left wing low. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA Inspector revealed 7 gallons of uncontaminated fuel, similar to automotive gasoline, in the left fuel tank. No fuel remained in the right tank. The fuel selector valve was found in the "both" position. The left fuel cap was found open, and the pilot stated he could not remember whether or not he secured it properly during his preflight inspection. Additionally, an engine run-up was performed using the fuel which was drained from the airplane. The engine performed satisfactorily and there were no discrepancies noted. Review of the airplane refueling records revealed the airplane was last refueled on November 23, 1996, with 28.2 gallons of automotive gasoline. According to an FAA Inspector, the airplane was ferried from 6B6, to FIT, for an annual inspection which was performed on July 18, 1997. The ferry flight, as reported by the pilot, was about 3/10ths of an hour. The airplane's tachometer had accumulated 1.38 hours since the annual inspection. According to the Pilot Operating Handbook, the airplane's total fuel capacity was 39 gallons, of which, 36 were usable. Additionally, the cruise and range performed chart indicated, fuel consumption in cruise flight at 75% power at 2,500 feet was 8.5 gallons per hour. The temperature and dewpoint were reported as 77 degrees Fahrenheit, and 46 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3553S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3553S-2014-10-02), registration cancelled 2014-10-02, S/N 17250753, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172E - Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17250753 - Airframe hours: 2595 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Andrew H Liebfried - Registered owner: Peter J Fasciano Jr - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 18, 1997, 1 hours before - Departed: FIT - Destination: 3B3, STERLING, MA - Airport: FIT, Fitchburg Muni, runway 32, 4,800 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 325 total, 50 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ORH, 17 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 19970722019479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970722019479A), Jul 22, 1997: Cessna 172E, Fitchburg, MA, Substantial damage. Aircraft took off from runway, lost power at 50FT AGL, landed straight ahead, swerved off runway into safety area. (.4)the pilot performed a preflight… 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.