# Accident 19990926047239A: Cessna 172N, Des Moines, IA, September 26, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 26, 1999, 22:46 local time
- Place: Des Moines, IA
- Airport: Des Moines International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.5798° N, 93.6800° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5798&lon=-93.6800&mi=10
- Aircraft: N738FA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N738FA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYC O360A4M
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 79 total, 42 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI99LA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA348) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990926047239A

## Narrative

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

(.4) THE PILOT SAID THAT 'HE ENCOUNTERED ENGINE FAILURE' AT 3,000 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING TO A STREET IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, 1.6 MILES EAST OF THE DES MOINES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, DES MOINES, IOWA.  THE PILOT SAID, 'UPON LANDING, I STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE WITH THE LEFT WING.'  EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S TWO MAIN FUEL TANKS REVEALED NO FUEL.  APPROXIMATELY 1 PINT OF FUEL WAS RECOVERED FROM THE ACCUMULATOR TANK AND LINES TO THE ENGINE.  NO OTHER ANOMALIES WERE FOUND.                 (-23) ON 09/26/99, TRENTON J. HEINRICH DEPARTED LAKELAND/LEE AIRPORT OPERATING N738FA, A CESSNA C-72N, WITH 37 GALLONS OF FUEL, ENROUTE TO DES MOINES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. AFTER THREE HOURS AND TWENTY FIVE MINUTES OF OPERATION, N738FA EXPERIENCED FUEL EXHAUSTION AND LOST POWER. MR. HEINRICH CRASH LANDED N738FA ON AN OFF AIRPORT LOCATION IN THE 200 BLOCK OF SW MCKINLEY AVENUE IN DES MOINES, IOWA. N738FA WAS DEMOLISHED DURING THE LANDING. MR. HEINRICH WAS NOT INJURED. NO PERSONS ON THE GROUND WERE INJURED. DAMAGE TO ONE ELECTRIC POWER POLE, ONE MAIL BOX POST, TELEPHONE AND TELEVISION CABLE WIRES AND MINOR TREE DAMAGE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF N738FA CRASH LANDING ON MCK INLEY AVENUE. ^PRIVACY DATA OMIT^

## 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 CHI99LA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA348), Sep 27, 1999: Cessna 172N (N738FA), Des Moines, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decisions which led to fuel exhaustion. A factor relating to this accident was the telephone pole.

## Other reports on N738FA (3)

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

- [Incident 20260211002539I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260211002539I), Feb 11, 2026: Cessna 172N (N738FA), Kahului, HI, Minor damage. Student pilot and CFI taxiied aircraft to runway 5 at ogg awaiting clearance for take off. Aircraft idled and waited approx ten minutes with a 30KNOT…
- [Incident 20220403004519I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220403004519I), Apr 3, 2022: Cessna 172N (N738FA), Kahului, HI, Minor damage. On April 3, 2022 at Kahului Airport (phog), Kahului, HI, the PIC of N738FA attempted to taxi the aircraft back to the [privacy data omitted](part 61 flight…
- [Accident 19840514016999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840514016999A), May 14, 1984: Cessna 172N (N738FA), Kindred, ND, Substantial damage. Lost control on a gust of wind during touchdown. Ran off the runway and overturned.

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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