# Accident 19980131002459A: Cessna 172, Valkaria, FL, January 31, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 31, 1998, 15:30 local time
- Place: Valkaria, FL
- Airport: Valkaria Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.9798° N, 80.5801° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9798&lon=-80.5801&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6261E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6261E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172 (registry code 2072402, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Reported engine: CONT O300A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 182 total, 124 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA98LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA065) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980131002459A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA98LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA065), Jan 31, 1998: Cessna 172 (N6261E), Valkaria, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate preflight, and subsequent loss of engine power, due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted in a forced landing and impact with trees.

## Other reports on N6261E (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20000319043719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000319043719A), Mar 19, 2000: Cessna 172 (N6261E), New Brighton, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he encountered wind shear on very short final and was unable to maintain a positive climb rate, hit tree tops approximately twenty feet…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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