What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Lost power on short flight to obtain fuel. Wing hit a tree on forced landing. Fuel tanks were empty. (-23) Mr. Dennis gibson piloted the CE-172 form sebastian muni enroute to Valkaria Airport when the engine sputtered and failed, causing the aircraft to descend out of 1500' MSL to an off airport landing site (2 miles s. west of Valkaria Airport). Just prior to touchdown, approx. 10', the aircraft struck a tree with the left wing, causing major damage to that wing. No injuries to the pilot. The pilot was interviewed immediately after the accident and found that the pilot did not include a visual fuel inspection prior to flight. The tanks were checked and found to be empty. An engine run was made; the engine quit a few seconds after engine start. Fuel was added to tanks and engine ran without any problems.
As the FAA filed it
LOST POWER ON SHORT FLIGHT TO OBTAIN FUEL. WING HIT A TREE ON FORCED LANDING. FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. (-23) MR. DENNIS GIBSON PILOTED THE CE-172 FORM SEBASTIAN MUNI ENROUTE TO VALKARIA AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND FAILED, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO DESCEND OUT OF 1500' MSL TO AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING SITE (2 MILES S. WEST OF VALKARIA AIRPORT). JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, APPROX. 10', THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING, CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THAT WING. NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT. THE PILOT WAS INTERVIEWED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND FOUND THAT THE PILOT DID NOT INCLUDE A VISUAL FUEL INSPECTION PRIOR TO FLIGHT. THE TANKS WERE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE EMPTY. AN ENGINE RUN WAS MADE; THE ENGINE QUIT A FEW SECONDS AFTER ENGINE START. FUEL WAS ADDED TO TANKS AND ENGINE RAN WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N6261E · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.