Cessna 172G N4198L

Summary

On 8 July 2000 at about 22:05 local time, a Cessna 172G registered N4198L was involved in an accident near North Elba, New York, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 July 2000 at 22:05

Classification

Accident

Location

North Elba, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Lake Placid Airport (LKP)

Coordinates

44.2808, -73.9803

Aircraft

Cessna 172G

Registration

N4198L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Washington → Lake Placid

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD00LA057

2 people were seriously injured.

the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations and exhaustion of his fuel supply.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Four hours and 10 minutes after takeoff, witnesses described the airplane as it maneuvered power-off to the ninth hole of the golf course located 1 mile south of the destination airport. The witnesses described the airplane's abrupt pitch and bank angle changes prior to its collision with the fairway. According to the owner's manual, the airplane's fuel capacity was 39 gallons, of which 36 gallons were usable. Examination of the Cruise and Range Performance Chart in the owner's manual revealed that at a 67 percent power setting, the airplane consumed 7.6 gallons per hour. Fuel consumption calculated for a four-hour flight was 30.4 gallons. The chart does not reflect the extra fuel required for start-up, taxi, run-up, take-off and climb to altitude. Examination of fuel records and conversation with the fixed base operator revealed the airplane was 'topped off' prior to the 4-hour first leg. The airplane was serviced with 20 gallons of fuel prior to the return leg. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies, and less than 1-gallon of fuel was recovered from the fuel system. The flaps were fully retracted. The ninth hole was 455 yards long and oriented east-west on a straight line from tee to green. According to the owner's manual, the procedure for a short field landing was: '...make a power-off approach at approximately 67 MPH with flaps 40 [degrees], and land on the main wheels first. Immediately after touchdown, lower the nose gear to the ground and apply heavy braking as required.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.