Cessna 175C accident near Millersburg, Ohio, December 21, 2016
On December 21, 2016 at about 3:20 pm local time, a 1962 Cessna 175C, registered N8381T, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Millersburg, Ohio (Holmes County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper in-flight fuel management and his failure to switch the fuel selector to the “both” position in accordance with the Before Landing checklist, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 2016 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Millersburg, Ohio · Holmes County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175C C, built 1962 · all 175Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8381T · registry record · serial 17557081
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight. The pilot reported that, after takeoff, he switched to the left fuel tank for the cruise portion of the flight. He added that, about 5 miles from the destination airport, he completed the Before Landing checklist; however, he "failed to position the fuel selector to [the] both" position at that time, which "set the stage for fuel exhaustion." The engine subsequently lost power. He checked the fuel selector, found that it was still set to the left tank, and moved it to the right tank. He subsequently executed a forced landing to an open area at the base of a hill, during which the airplane impacted a fence and sustained substantial damage to the firewall and right wing. The pilot stated that no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane preceded the accident. The pilot's failure to move the fuel selector handle to the "both" position in accordance with the Before Landing checklist resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 12,500 hours in all; 5,481 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 10,737 as pilot in command; 4,532 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 26, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,169 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 28, 2015; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-360-A3A (piston); 4,480 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W50 Laytonsville MD at 12:00 pm
- Destination: 10G Millersburg OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 3:25 pm from 10G, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on June 19, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Site Map (FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Accident Site Diagram (Sheriff's Office) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Maintenance Records - Airframe (Excerpts) | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Maintenance Records - Engine (Excerpts) | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Maintenance Records - Propeller (Excerpts) | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Airplane Owner's Manual - Excerpt | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Weather Documentation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.