ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 353567
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| Date: | Monday 16 November 1998 |
| Time: | 01:30 LT |
| Type: |  Cessna 172 |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N5806A |
| MSN: | 28406 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1956 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3000 hours |
| Engine model: | Continental O-300-A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Essex, MD -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Wilkes-barre, PA (AVP |
| (W48) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot-in-command departed Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, approximately 2145 in the Cessna 172 destined for Essex, Maryland, 125 nautical miles (straight line) distant. He reported a total of 30 gallons of fuel aboard at departure (20 gallons having been purchased at Wilkes-Barre), and estimated a flight duration of 1.75 hours. According to the aircraft owner's manual, unusable fuel was 2.5 gallons per tank, and the maximum fuel consumption for the O-300-A engine at 2,500 feet above sea level is 12.6 gallons/hour (worst case scenario). Fuel consumption decreases as altitude is increased and/or RPM is decreased. Approaching his destination, the pilot descended from 3,500 feet 1,000 feet, entered the downwind, applied carburetor heat and initiated a left base turn at 700 feet. He reported that RPM dropped off, and unable to reach the airport, he ditched the aircraft in a river under dark night conditions approximately 2330 local. A post crash test run of the engine was inconclusive and approximately 6 gallons of fuel was recovered from within the right wing fuel tank with the remaining fluid from both tanks being water. Temperature/dew point near the time of the accident was 43/30 degrees F. and serious carburetor icing conditions may have existed.
Probable Cause: A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors were the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing and dark night conditions.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB IAD99LA018
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Mar-2024 08:14 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
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