Investigator In Charge (IIC): Spencer, Lynn
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Cleveland, Ohio
Textron; Wichita, Kansas
Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Location: Akron, Ohio
Accident Number: ERA22LA298
Date and Time: July 4, 2022, 19:01 Local
Registration: N12115
Aircraft: Cessna 172M
Injuries: 2 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On July 4, 2022, about 1901 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N12115, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Akron, Ohio. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot and passenger were returning from Connecticut and had stopped at Skyhaven Airport (76N), Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, to fuel the airplane on the way back to Weltzien Skypark Airport (15G), Wadsworth, Ohio, which was the pilot’s home airport. Review of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed that the airplane was first detected at 1627 shortly after departing 76N. The airplane climbed to an altitude of about 4,500 ft mean sea level and continued a westerly course for about 2 hours and 15 minutes before starting a gradual descent 40 miles east of the 15G. The passenger stated that they passed Fulton and Canton airports and things were fine until “all of a sudden, everything got quiet.” She inquired to the pilot, who responded, “We're out of fuel” and the pilot radioed the fuel emergency to the air traffic control facility. Track data showed that just outside of Akron at 1858, the airplane slowed significantly and turned southwesterly toward the Akron Fulton Airport (AKR), Akron, Ohio. The airplane impacted a parking lot .9 nm short of runway 25 at AKR.
Inspection of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane impacted the parking lot nose-first, substantially damaging the fuselage and right wing.
The 76N Airport manager watched the pilot fuel the airplane and believed that he “topped off both tanks.” The airplane had a range of about 3.9 hours with 38 gallons of useable fuel.
The airplane was retained for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N12115
Model/Series: 172M
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: AKR,1044 ft msl
Observation Time: 18:54 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 30°C /13°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 9 knots / , 210°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.1 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: Tunkhannock, PA (45PN)
Destination: Wadsworth, OH (15G)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 41.050692,-81.441501
Aircraft crashed in a parking lot due to fuel exhaustion.
Date: 04-JUL-22
Time: 23:01:00Z
Regis#: N12115
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 172
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: SERIOUS
Flight Crew: 1 Serious Injuries
Pax: 1 Unknown Injuries
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
City: AKRON
State: OHIO
ReplyDeleteIf in doubt, use Akron-Canton Regional Airport (KCAK).