# Accident 20020531013879A: Cessna 172M, Anacortes, WA, May 31, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 31, 2002, 11:35 local time
- Place: Anacortes, WA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.4595° N, 122.5997° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4595&lon=-122.5997&mi=10
- Aircraft: N496HM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N496HM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-360-A1D (registry code 41504, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA02LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA093) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020531013879A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, BOTH AIRCRAFT FUEL TANKS WERE FULL THE DAY PRIOR TO ACCIDENT, AND WAS FLOWN FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR AND 40 MINUTES. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PLANE WAS FLOWN FROM ANACORTES TO OMAK, WASHINGTON, ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT, WITH STOPS IN BETWEEN. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO ANACORTES AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE QUIT, AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED THE FORCED LANDING ON THE SHORELINE NORTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN THE WATER CLOSE TO THE BEACH, ENCOUNTERED SOFT, SANDY TERRAIN, AND FLIPPED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES HAD ELAPSED SINCE THE AIRCRAFT HAD LAST BEEN REFUELED.

## 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 SEA02LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA093), May 31, 2002: Cessna 172M (N496HM), Anacortes, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to continue his flight after failing to take on fuel at a planned en route refueling stop, which lead to a loss of power from fuel exhaustion while on final approach to…

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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