N7894X

On October 13, 2000, at 0921 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172B, N7894X, collided with an automobile during a forced landing on Junior College Road in Palatka, Florida. The airplane was operated by the Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local training flight. The CFI received minor injuries, the student pilot no injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage, and the occupant of the automobile was not injured. The flight originated from Crescent City, Florida, at 0830.

According to the CFI, the flight departed Thunderbird Air Park (26J) in Crescent City, Florida, at 0830 eastern daylight time on a training flight to Kay Larkin Airport (28J) in Palatka, Florida, to practice touch and go landings. After arrival at Kay Larkin Airport three touch and go landings were successfully completed. On the fourth approach the engine quit at about 3/4 of a mile from the runway. The student pilot said that they made a forced landing on Jr. Collage Road, and had only a short distance to set the plane down before the road came to an end at the intersection of St. Johns Avenue. Attempts failed to stop the airplane on the road and the airplane traveled down into a drainage ditch that parallels St. Johns Avenue. Power lines crossed over, and then parallel Jr. Collage Road shortening the landing distance available for the airplane. A automobile, with one occupant onboard, was struck at the intersection of Jr. Collage Road and St. Johns Avenue.

On-scene examination of the airplane revealed that less then one gallon of fuel remained in both fuel tanks. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were found during the engine examination.