Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clarkston, Michigan 48347
Saturday, August 26, 1995 11:38 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that prior to departure he obtained a full weather briefing and performed a full preflight. He was informed that the airplane had flown for approximately 1/2 hour the night before. The pilot stated the fuel tanks appeared virtually full and the fuel gauges read FULL. Since the tanks appeared 'just about full,' he decided not to have the tanks topped off prior to departure. Approximately 2 hours into the flight, the visibility deteriorated. The pilot decided to turn around and go back to his departure airport. Approximately 17 miles from his destination, the airplane's engine lost all power. The pilot made a forced landing on a field. The airplane impacted trees and became inverted. Postaccident examination found no fuel in the fuel tanks, fuel lines, or carburetor. No fuel stains were observed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to refuel.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/26/1995
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1138
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CLARKSTON
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48347
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1056 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID FNT
Elevation of weather observation facility 782
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 27
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 4
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1830
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 26 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1302
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:30PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N738CL
NTSB Number CHI95LA297
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N
Aircraft Serial Number 17269871
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 25 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 9
Airframe Hours 2235
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LINDA LEASING CO.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 39 HICKORY
Aircraft Owner City TROY
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48083
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name L & W FLYING SERVICES INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2670 INDUSTRIAL ROW
Operator City TROY
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 48084
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 7D2
Departure City TROY
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 730
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code Y84
Destination City MACKINAC ISLAND
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --