Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
Monday, October 17, 2011 11:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and his passenger were on their way back from 1-hour personal flight. According to the pilot, as the airplane was descending through 1,500 feet into the traffic pattern, the engine lost power, but the propeller continued to windmill. The pilot performed a forced landing to an open field, but during the landing the left wing collided with the corner of the parking garage before it came to rest in a parking lot. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s fuel system did not reveal any discrepancy that would have precluded normal engine operation. An estimated 20 gallons of fuel was recovered, which was equally distributed between the airplane’s left and right wing fuel tanks. The engine was test run and it operated satisfactorily. The examination of the mechanical components of the airplane and engine did not reveal any discrepancies that would account for the sudden loss of engine power. Cylinder head and exhaust gas temperatures data retrieved for the airplane’s onboard engine data monitoring unit was consistent with a sudden stop of fuel or ignition supply to the engine at the time of loss of power. The reason for the sudden stop of fuel or ignition supply could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/17/2011
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Williamsburg
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 23185
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 372021N
Event Location Longitude 0764523W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.87
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30781
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern C-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 25 2013 9:24AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N758GY
NTSB Number ERA12LA033
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model R172K
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number R1723096
Certified Max Gross Weight 2250
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 3
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 Mar 21 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 26
Airframe Hours 2218
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name KOPPER HANS H
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City WILLIAMSBURG
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 23185-3865
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name KOPPER HANS H
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City WILLIAMSBURG
Operator State VA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 23185-3865
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code JGG
Departure City Williamsburg
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code JGG
Destination City Williamsburg
Destination State VA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 9 2013 7:30PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --