N737JP

On August 8, 1999, at 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N airplane, N737JP, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Hot Springs, Arkansas. The airplane was registered to Southern Arkansas Aero Center Inc., of Magnolia, Arkansas, and operated by a private individual. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Gastons Airport, Lakeview, Arkansas, at 1400.

According to the 311-hour pilot, the flight was destined for the Memorial Field Airport, Hot Springs, Arkansas, where the airplane was to be refueled. The airplane was in cruise flight at 3,000 feet agl when he observed the fuel gauges indicating "EMPTY." He stated that the fuel selector was in the "BOTH" position, and the airplane was 3 miles from the Memorial Field Airport when the engine "sputtered" and lost total power. The pilot sated that the airplane "ran out of fuel." During the ensuing forced landing to an open field, the airplane contacted a powerline and came to rest nose down in the field.

The pilot reported that the following weather conditions existed at the time of the accident: visibility 5 miles with haze, ceiling at 25,000 feet broken, temperature 98 degrees Fahrenheit, and calm winds.

An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the site and reported that the engine firewall was damaged and the fuselage was buckled. The nose landing gear separated from the airframe and the left wing tip was damaged. The FAA inspector added that fuel was not present in either of the two fuel tanks, and there was no evidence of fuel spillage at the site.