Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Seneca, South Carolina 29678
Friday, July 2, 1993 13:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE RETURNING TO SENECA, SOUTH CAROLINA, FOLLOWING TWO EN ROUTE STOPS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT FORCE LANDED IN A FIELD. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE PILOT HAD FUELED THE AIRCRAFT THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT USING FIVE GALLON CANS. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF REFUELING THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AT ANY OF THE EN ROUTE STOPS. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT ONE GALLON OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/2/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1350
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SENECA
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29678
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
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 Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1248 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID AND
Elevation of weather observation facility 782
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 3000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1216
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 2 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1445
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5812A
NTSB Number ATL93LA122
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 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 28412
Certified Max Gross Weight 2075
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 19 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TIMBERLAND MANAGEMENT ASSOC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address POST OFFICE BOX 942
Aircraft Owner City CLEMSON
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29631
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name STEELE, WILLIAM B.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 103 CLEARWOOD DR.
Operator City SENECA
Operator State SC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 29678
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City HARLEYVILLE
Departure State SC
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 --