# NTSB WPR10LA182: Cessna 172G, N5880R, Anacortes, WA, March 27, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 27, 2010, 14:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Anacortes, WA - Coordinates: 48.507221, -122.616386 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5072&lon=-122.6164&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75588 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA182 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75588/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75588 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA182 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during his preflight inspection he checked the fuel level with a dipstick and visually confirmed that there was a little less than 1/4 tank of fuel in the left side, and a little more than 1/4 in the right. The pilot then flew around the local area for about 40 minutes and was on his way back to the airport when the engine lost power. The local sheriff reported that when he arrived on scene, the airplane was on the ground inverted and appeared to have contacted some power lines prior to impacting the terrain. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the fuel system and found no evidence of fuel on board the airplane. ## Factual narrative On March 27, 2010, about 1450 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172G, N5880R, collided with power lines 2 miles east of the Anacortes Airport, Anacortes, Washington. The private pilot operated the rental airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. The pilot was seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Anacortes about 1430. The sheriff reported to the Safety Board investigator that when he arrived on-scene the airplane was on the ground inverted, and it appeared to have clipped some power lines prior to impacting the terrain. The pilot had received a head injury and was transported to a hospital. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who was on-scene reported that he examined the fuel system and found no evidence of fuel on board the airplane. According to the aircraft logsheet, the pilot signed out the airplane at 1,220.12 hours tach time, and the tach reading at the accident scene was 1,220.8 hours; equating to 40 minutes of engine operation. On March 26 the airplane had been rented to a pilot who flew to Roche Harbor, Washington, and back to Anacortes. He said that before he left Anacortes the airplane had about 9 gallons of fuel in each fuel tank. He did not fuel the airplane and knew he would have enough fuel to fly to Roche Harbor and back, but the airplane would need fuel when he was done with his flight. On March 27 the accident pilot checked the airplane out from 1400 to 1600. The accident pilot was asked by personnel at Land and Sea Aircraft Sales and Leasing if he wanted fuel, and he said, "No, I'll be ok." The accident pilot was seen on a step stool looking into the fuel tanks during his preflight. The pilot stated to a FAA inspector that he checked the fuel level with a dipstick and had about 1/4 tank of fuel in each wing. He flew east to Skagit Bay View Airport, performed 2 touch-and-go landings, flew around Mt Erie, then headed west back to Anacortes. While en route to Anacortes the engine experienced a loss of engine power. Prior to the loss of engine power the engine was operating normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5880R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5880R-2013-02-07), registration cancelled 2013-02-07, S/N 17253549, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172G - 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: 17253549 - Airframe hours: 4334 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 22, 2009, 59 hours before - Departed: K74S, Anacortes, WA - Destination: K74S, Anacortes, WA - Airport: K74S, Anacortes Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3; last flight review December 4, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 557 total, 504 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 4 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KBVS, 10 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 20100327030439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100327030439A), Mar 27, 2010: Cessna 172G, Anacortes, WA, Substantial damage. On March 27, 2010, at approximately 1450 pacific daylight time , N5880R, a Cessna 172G, piloted by private pilot [privacy data omitted], inbound to Anacortes… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 20, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75588. 321 KB in all. - Witness Statements (item 1, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340450&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341125&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Accident Scene (item 3, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340453&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Accident%20Scene-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Aircraft inverted, right hand side (item 4, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340454&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Aircraft%20inverted,%20right%20hand%20side-Master.PDF 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.