ROANOKE, VA, USA
N5730T
Cessna 172E
The pilot stated that during his preflight inspection of the airplane he visually inspected the fuel tanks and they appeared to be full. Approximately 10 minutes from the Roanoke Airport, the pilot noted that the fuel quantity gauges indicated about 1/4 tank of fuel. He contacted Roanoke ATC, advised them he was low on fuel, and proceeded inbound to land. Shortly thereafter, the engine began to sputter, then completely lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing, but '...[when the] main wheels hit the soft turf, the nose wheel dug into the ground and we flipped over.' Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of fuel present in the fuel tanks or the area surrounding the accident site. The pilot stated that, although he had requested that the airplane be 'topped off' with fuel before his flight, another pilot had flown for 1.6 hours since the airplane was refueled. He stated that he should have used a more precise method to measure fuel quantity before he departed.
On April 4, 1996, at about 1109 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172E, N5703T, operated as a pleasure flight, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a forced landing in the vicinity of Roanoke, Virginia. The private pilot and the two passengers reported minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from the Flying W Airport, in Lumberton, New Jersey, at approximately 0726. The intended destination was Blacksburg, Virginia. The pilot stated that the night before the accident, he had contacted the fixed base operator (FBO) at the Flying W Airport, and requested that they "...completely top off the fuel tanks in preparation for the next morning's flight." He reported that when he arrived at the airport the next day, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, during which he visually inspected the full tanks. He indicated that the fuel tanks appeared to be full. The pilot stated that by his calculations he "...had at least 5 hours of fuel on-board when the flight was initiated...[when I saw the fuel gauges indicating 1/4 of a tank of fuel] I had been airborne for just over 3 hours. I felt that the fuel gauge was not registering properly and that I would land at ROA [Roanoke Airport] to refill." The pilot contacted Roanoke air traffic control (ATC) and informed them that the airplane was low on fuel and inbound for a landing. He indicated that when the airplane was about 10 to 15 minutes from the airport, the engine began to sputter, and then completely stopped. The pilot performed the items on the emergency checklist while searching for a place to land the airplane. The pilot reported that he found a small field to land in, but that it had a small incline. He stated that after "...the main wheels hit the soft turf, the nose wheel dug into the ground and we flipped over." The pilot reported that upon his return to New Jersey, he discovered that the airplane had been flown for 1.6 hours since it's most recent refueling, before the accident flight. The pilot also stated that "as pilot in command of the craft, I take full responsibility for the fuel situation." He reported that the accident could have been avoided if he had used a more precise method to measure fuel in the tanks. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Investigator stated that "...there was no fuel in the aircraft's fuel tanks at the scene and there was no indication of fuel being spilt on the ground." The FAA Investigator also stated that the pilot said that he had run out of fuel. The FAA Airworthiness Investigator stated that he "...personally removed both wing fuel tank caps, and noticed that absolutely no fuel drained out of the tanks... ." This information was also confirmed by the Commonwealth of Virginia State Police.
the pilot's misjudged estimation of the airplane's fuel supply for the flight. Related factors are the inadequate preflight inspection, the pilot's expectation that the airplane had been topped off, and the soft terrain encountered during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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