Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172G near Temecula, CA — 2013-03-22

Final reportWPR13CA163
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Date
2013-03-22
Location
Temecula, CA, USA
Airport
F70
Aircraft
CESSNA 172G
Registration
N5931R
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

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

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the airplane lost engine power as it approached the destination airport. The pilot attempted to restart the engine unsuccessfully and performed a forced landing to a nearby street. During the landing roll, the airplane hit a chain link fence and sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall, undercarriage, and the tail. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel tanks remained intact and were not breached and that both tanks contained a total of 1.5 gallons of fuel. The pilot operating handbook identifies 3.0 gallons as unusable. There was no evidence of preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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