Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Blountville, Tennessee 37617
Monday, October 11, 1993 20:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE RECEIVING RADAR VECTORS FOR AN IFR APPROACH TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED. THE ENGINE QUIT APPROXIMATELY SIX MILES FROM THE RUNWAY, AND FIVE HOURS AND TEN MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE IN A NEARBY LAKE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE MAXIMUM FUEL ENDURANCE FOR THIS AIRPLANE WAS FIVE HOURS; NO REFUELING STOPS WERE PLANNED OR MADE ON THIS FLIGHT. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED BY THE PILOT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN INADEQUATE FUEL AND FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/11/1993
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2050
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BLOUNTVILLE
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37617
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 10
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 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 250
Airport Elevation 1519
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2050 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID TRI
Elevation of weather observation facility 1512
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1850
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1588
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 11 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2145
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:41PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N12657
NTSB Number ATL94LA004
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 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 17262152
Certified Max Gross Weight 2600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Sep 10 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 14
Airframe Hours 5038
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SINCLAIR, RONALD M.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 209 WOODSTOCK PLACE
Aircraft Owner City KINGSPORT
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37663
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 1N9
Departure City ALLENTOWN
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1545
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code TRI
Destination City
Destination State
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --