# NTSB SEA95LA016: Cessna 172, N1380F, Lewiston, ID, November 8, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 7, 1994, 16:55 local (Nov 8, 1994, 00:55 UTC) - Place: Lewiston, ID - Coordinates: 46.160358, -116.919174 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1604&lon=-116.9192&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 16, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42085 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42085/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA016 ## Probable cause FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL EN ROUTE. FACTORS INCLUDE THE EMBANKMENT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON WHICH HE MADE HIS FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment (contributing factor) ## Analysis AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED WEATHER THAT KEPT HIM FROM CLIMBING TO HIS PLANNED CRUISE ALTITUDE. WHILE MANEUVERING AROUND THE WEATHER AT LOWER ALTITUDES FOR ABOUT TWO AND ONE-HALF HOURS, THE PILOT USED MORE FUEL THAN HE HAD PLANNED FOR, BUT ATTEMPTED TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT WITHOUT AN ADDITIONAL REFUELING STOP. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF USABLE FUEL ABOUT TWO MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. ## Factual narrative On November 7, 1994, approximately 1655 Pacific standard time (PST), a Cessna 172, N1380F, impacted the terrain during a forced landing near Lewiston, Idaho. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed Elko, Nevada, about four and one-half hours earlier, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, he was just contacting the tower at Lewiston Airport when he lost power. Because he thought he would not be able to glide to the airport, the pilot made the decision to land on a paved road. During the landing roll, he swerved to the right in order to avoid oncoming traffic, and the aircraft impacted an embankment. In a telephone conversation with the IIC, the pilot stated that he had originally planned to climb to about 10,000 MSL after takeoff, and remain at that altitude until it was time to begin his descent into Lewiston. But after takeoff, the pilot encountered weather that caused him to maneuver at altitudes between 6,500 and 7,500 feet MSL for about two and one-half hours. He said that this had caused him to burn more fuel than he originally expected, but that he thought he could still make it to Lewiston. He said that when the engine quit, one fuel tank was indicating empty, and the other was just above empty. When the aircraft was disassembled by the recovery team, less than three gallons of fuel was found in the entire fuel system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1380F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1380F-2003-10-29), registration cancelled 2003-10-29, S/N 17254875, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17254875 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kahn, Roger A. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 16, 1994 - Departed: EKO, ELKO, NV - Destination: LWS, ID - Airport: LWS, Lewiston Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 160 total, 155 in this make and model, 109 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 120° at 10 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F - Observed at: LWS, 1 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 19941107037869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941107037869A), Nov 7, 1994: Cessna 172G, Lewiston, ID, Substantial damage. Lost power near destination. Crash landed on a road. Airborne for 4 and a half hours. Ran out of fuel. No reserve. 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.