Cessna 172M N13375

Summary

On 18 September 2003 at about 21:50 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N13375 was involved in an accident near Perry, Georgia, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 September 2003 at 21:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Perry, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Perry Middle Georgia Airport (68GA)

Coordinates

32.4858, -83.7347

Aircraft

Cessna 172M

Registration

N13375

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Perry → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL03FA142

1 person died.

The pilot inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane, and also causal was his failure to detect water-contaminated fuel which resulted in a loss of engine power and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot stated that during climb out, he heard a strange noise coming from the engine compartment. The certified flight instructor (CFI) took control of the airplane, and the student pilot stated that the airplane entered a right bank and the stall warning horn briefly sounded. A witness stated that after takeoff, the airplane did not seem to gain altitude or airspeed. The witness stated that the airplane was then observed descending in a right bank. The airplane collided with the ground and came to rest in a field approximately 1/4 mile southeast of the departure end of runway 36. Examination of the wreckage site the airplane came to rest upright with both wings attached to the fuselage. Both wings were crushed aft and both wingtips were separated from both wings. Buckling was observed over the top portion of the wing skin on both wings. The empennage was separated from the fuselage aft of the rear passenger seats. The engine compartment was displaced up and aft into the cockpit area. A review of information on file with the FAA Aircraft Division, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed the airplane was granted a Supplemental Type Certificate on December 12, 1984, authorizing the use of unleaded automotive fuel. Examination of the fuel system revealed automotive fuel that was brown in color and contained debris and water. Water was observed in both fuel tanks and in the fuel strainer. The carburetor bowl, fuel inlet chamber, and fuel screen were stained and contained dirt and debris. During the post -accident examination of the engine and airframe, no mechanical anomalies were identified. The CFI maintained a 55 gallon plastic refueling tank at the airport where the airplane was parked. Examination of the refueling tank revealed approximately one-fourth of an inch of sediment at the bottom of the tank. The fuel was brown in color and contained water and debris that was brown in color. The fuel filter on the tank was dark in color and contained sediment, and debris was observed around the seal of the fuel tank.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.