# NTSB SEA95LA008: Cessna R172K, N7327K, St. George, UT, October 10, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 9, 1994, 20:30 local (Oct 10, 1994, 02:30 UTC) - Place: St. George, UT - Coordinates: 37.179569, -113.600166 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1796&lon=-113.6002&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report June 29, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42080 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42080/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA008 ## Probable cause INADEQUATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FUEL EXHAUSTION AND A PARKED AIRCRAFT IN THE LANDING PATH. ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED 'HALF TANKS' BEFORE DEPARTING FOR HIS DESTINATION AT 1740 HOURS. WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING AT THE DESTINATION, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRPLANE TOWARD THE RUNWAY AND THE ENGINE RESUMED POWER FOR A SHORT TIME BEFORE LOSING ALL POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY AND LANDED ON THE PARKING RAMP. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A PARKED AIRCRAFT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS AND 50 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF. A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN BOTH WING FUEL TANKS. SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND FOUND TO RUN WITH NO NOTED ABNORMALITIES. ## Factual narrative On October 9, 1994, approximately 2030 hours mountain daylight time (mdt), a Cessna R172K, N7327K, registered to Rex & Dena Sylvester, and being operated/flown by Nathan K. Hoyt, a private pilot, collided with a parked Beech Baron on the ramp at the St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, while on landing roll out. The Cessna sustained substantial damage during the forced landing and ground collision following a total loss of power approaching the airport. The pilot and three passengers received minor injuries. The flight, which was personal in nature, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from the Logan-Cache Airport approximately 1740. The pilot reported that after approximately 2.6 hours of flight time from St. George to Logan on October 8th, he purchased 10 gallons of fuel. He reported that the fuel gauges were displaying half full quantity readings and that the tanks looked half full prior to departing Logan. During a telephone interview, the pilot stated that the fuel gauges read one quarter when approaching the St. George Airport. Two other planes were in the pattern and the pilot extended the downwind leg. While in the pattern, the pilot stated that the engine sputtered, then quit. The pilot turned toward the runway and the engine resumed power for a short time, allowing the airplane to climb. The engine then quit again and the pilot set up for an emergency forced landing on the transient parking ramp. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a parked Beech Baron. The St. George Fire Chief reported that there was no evidence of fuel leakage at the accident site following the crash. Airport personnel reported that the left wing contained "at best" unusable fuel. The right wing contained possibly a small amount of fuel. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Salt Lake City, Utah, Flight Standards District Office, reported that he viewed the airplane several days after the accident. The Inspector stated that the left wing fuel tank contained approximately one inch of fuel. The right wing was found to contain approximately four gallons of fuel. The engine was then started and found to run with no noted abnormalities. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7327K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7327K), registered now, S/N R1722057 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA R172K - Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R1722057 - Airframe hours: 3113 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360K 195 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hoyt, Nathan K. - Registered owner: Rex & Dena Sylvester - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 13, 1994 - Departed: LGU, LOGAN, UT - Destination: SGU - Airport: SGU, St. George ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 320 total, 40 in this make and model, 230 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SGU ## 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 19941009034359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941009034359A), Oct 9, 1994: Cessna R172K, Saint George, UT, Substantial damage. Lost power. Landing on ramp, struck parked baron. Fuel tanks were empty. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.