Cessna 172N N733XS

Summary

On 23 July 1993 at about 11:56 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N733XS, operated by Kansas Air Center, Inc., was involved in an accident near Long Grove, Illinois, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 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

23 July 1993 at 11:56

Classification

Accident

Location

Long Grove, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Palwaukee Municipal (PWK)

Coordinates

42.1900, -88.0807

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N733XS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Kansas Air Center, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Manhattan → Wheeling

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

CHI93FA272

4 people were seriously injured.

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. RELATED FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE CERTIFICATION/APPROVAL OF THE STC BY THE FAA, INADEQUATE PERFORMANCE DATA, AND UNAVAILABLE FUEL CONSUMPTION INFORMATION.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A COMPUTER FLIGHT PLANNING PROGRAM PRINTOUT FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE SHOWED AN ESTIMATED 3.5 HRS EN ROUTE, WITH A 4.7 HR TOTAL RANGE. THE PILOTS DEVIATED FROM THE PLANNED DUE TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN THE AREA. AFTER 3 HRS 51 MIN OF FLIGHT, APPROX 7 MI FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES DURING THE FORCED LANDING, AND CAME TO REST INVERTED IN A CORN FIELD. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF USEABLE FUEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A 180 HP ENGINE (ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WAS A 160 HP ENGINE) IN ACCORDANCE WITH STC SA703GL. THE STC DOCUMENTATION INDICATED THERE WAS 'NO CHANGE' TO THE PERFORMANCE SECTION OF THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL. THE COMPUTER PROGRAM FUEL CONSUMPTION PERTAINED TO THE 160 HP ENGINE, AND SHOWED A FUEL CONSUMPTION OF 8.8 GPH. THE POH FOR A CESSNA 172Q (180 HP ENGINE) INDICATES THAT A FUEL CONSUMPTION RATE OF 10.0 GPH WAS MORE REALISTIC.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.