Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 120 near Cordele, GA — 2011-09-24

Final reportERA11LA503
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Date
2011-09-24
Location
Cordele, GA, USA
Airport
CKF
Aircraft
CESSNA 120
Registration
N3101N
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot was maneuvering and practicing takeoffs and landings in the vicinity of his home airport when the airplane impacted trees and terrain about 1/2-mile from the departure end of one of the runways. An examination of the wreckage revealed signatures consistent with the engine not developing power at impact, and no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures was found. Additionally, no evidence of fuel or fuel spillage was observed at the accident scene or within any of the disassembled airframe or engine components. The pilot had most recently fueled the airplane 2 days before the accident flight, and, according to his personal flight logs, he had flown the airplane for 2.3 hours before departing on the accident flight. With a full fuel load, the airplane had an estimated fuel endurance in cruise flight of between 3.6 and 7.8 hours, depending on engine power setting. The exact duration of the accident flight could not be determined; however, based on witness statements, it was likely longer than 0.5 hours.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot declined to refuel before the flight despite low fuel levels.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 14 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents14

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