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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 15, 1995 · Cessna 172D · N3744S

Stanton, TN

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 15, 1995
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Stanton, TN
Aircraft
Cessna 172D
Tail Number
N3744S
Operator
Adventure Air
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL95LA137

WHILE ON THE RETURN FLIGHT, THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED AND DECIDED TO CHANGE HIS DESTINATION. CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF FUEL REMAINING, THE PILOT DECIDED TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER LANDING SITE, AS HE MANEUVERED FOR THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING TO A DIRT RACE TRACK, AND DURING THE ROLLOUT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THICK BRUSH AND NOSED OVER. NO AIRCRAFT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED BY THE PILOT. A REVIEW OF THE RENTAL DOCUMENTS REVEALED THAT THE PILOT HAD FLOWN 3.7 HOURS WITHOUT REFUELING. THE NORMAL FUEL ENDURANCE FOR THIS AIRCRAFT IS APPROXIMATELY 4 FLIGHT HOURS.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT BECAME LOST/DISORIENTATED, AND HIGH VEGETATION IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

Full Narrative

On July 15, 1995, at 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 172D, N3744S, collided with thick bushes nosed over during the rollout phase of a forced landing near Stanton, Tennessee. The personal flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the pilot received minor injuries, and the passenger received serious injuries. The flight departed Somerville, Tennessee, at 1130 hours. The pilot reported that the airplane was topped off with 32 1/2 gallons of aviation fuel before he departed Somerville. After about three hours of local flying, the pilot returned to Somerville. Upon arriving back in the vicinity of the destination airport, the pilot noticed that he was low on fuel. The pilot also became disoriented, and could not locate the destination airport; the pilot decided to divert to an airport that he was familiar. While enroute to the new destination, the pilot again became concern about this fuel situation and decided to make a precautionary landing. Before a precautionary landing could be made, the engine quit. The pilot selected a dirt race track and made an emergency landing. During the rollout, the airplane collided with thick bushes, and nosed over. During the on site examination of the aircraft, two quarts of fuel were recovered from the fuel system. The review of the aircraft rental checkout documents disclosed that the pilot had flown 3.7 hours since his initial departure. The airplane has a normal fuel endurance of approximately four hours. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:00 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172D
Tail NumberN3744S
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAdventure Air
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300-D · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 54 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNr
Wind190° @ 7 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time19:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data