Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Manassas, Virginia 22111
Sunday, May 16, 1993 15:12 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS EN ROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION AT ABOUT 3000 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE STATED THAT HE RESTARTED THE ENGINE ONCE, BUT IT LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTERWARD. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN EARLIER THAT DAY BY ANOTHER PILOT. THE PILOT (OF THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT) ESTIMATED HE HAD 18 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD AND HIS FLYING TIME WOULD BE 1 HOUR TEN MINUTES. AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER, HE ESTABLISHED THE BEST RATE OF GLIDE AND TRIED TO REACH THE NEAREST AIRPORT. HOWEVER, HIS ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT 1.5 MI EAST OF THE AIRPORT AND FELL TO THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED 1 QUART OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK; THE RIGHT TANK AND CARBURETOR WERE EMPTY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/16/1993
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1512
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MANASSAS
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 22111
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 5
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1447 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 1
Weather Observation Facility ID HEF
Elevation of weather observation facility 1
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 11000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 700
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 16 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50686
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5416T
NTSB Number BFO93LA090
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172E
Aircraft Series Identifier 172E
Aircraft Serial Number 17251316
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Oct 20 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 51
Airframe Hours 4173
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CONTINENTAL AVIATION CLUB INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 3683
Aircraft Owner City VIENNA
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22103
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CONTINENTAL AVIATION CLUB INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 3683
Operator City VIENNA
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 22103
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 TGI
Departure City TANGIER ISLAND
Departure State VA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1845
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code JYO
Destination City LEESBURG
Destination State VA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 --