# NTSB WPR23LA320: Cessna 172H, N3282L, Santa Rosa, CA, August 19, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 19, 2023, 15:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Santa Rosa, CA - Coordinates: 38.509694, -122.81288 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5097&lon=-122.8129&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 192920 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA320 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192920/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192920 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA320 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel management which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported the airplane recently had an engine upgrade and he was flying it to break in the engine. He had performed fuel calculations based on its previously consumption rate and did not realize the new engine was consuming more fuel than planned. During final approach the airplane experienced a total loss of power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot performed a forced landing on an open field with high vegetation, substantially damaging the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3282L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3282L), registered now, S/N 17256182, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H - Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17256182 - Year built: 1967 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KSTS, Santa Rosa, WA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: STS, Santa Rosa, runway 14, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 3,154 total, 1,770 in this make and model, 67 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 12 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: KSTS - METAR: KSTS 192153Z 16012G16KT 10SM CLR 26/15 A2979 RMK AO2 SLP081 T02560150 ## 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 20230819020799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230819020799A), Aug 19, 2023: Cessna 172H, Santa Rosa, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft on a 3 mile final for runway 14 advised tower that they had lost their engine (engine failure), local controller cleared the pilot to land any runway… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192920. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16461941&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N3282L%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 604 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16461851&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photograph%20N3282L-Rel.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.