# Accident 20020629014829A: Cessna 172M, Hite, UT, June 29, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 29, 2002, 12:30 local time
- Place: Hite, UT
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.4422° N, 110.5697° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4422&lon=-110.5697&mi=10
- Aircraft: N725EC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N725EC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN02LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA066) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020629014829A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JUNE 29, 2002, AT 1230 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 172M, N725EC, PILOTED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT NOSED OVER ON A ROAD FOLLOWING A FORCED LANDING ATTEMPT, NEAR HITE, UTAH. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATING WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT BOULDER, COLORADO, AND WAS EN ROUTE TO HALLS CROSSING, UTAH. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE RAN OUT OF FUEL. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE SHOWED THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE GEAR BROKEN AFT AND RESTING NEAR A 2 FOOT DEEP DITCH. THE FIREWALL SHOWED BUCKLING. THE FIBERGLASS CAP OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER WAS CRUSHED DOWNWARD. ONE OF THE TWO PROPELLER BLADES WAS BENT AFT. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS CONFIRMED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE AND ENGINE CONTROLS SHOWED NO ANOMALIES. AN EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM SHOWED NO FUEL IN THE TANKS. THERE WAS NO SMELL OF FUEL PREVALENT AT THE SITE.                                                                                                              (-23) ON JUNE 29, 2002, CESSNA 172 AIRCRAFT N725EC, PILOTED BY DAVID L. METZGER, IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 12 NM NE OF HITE, UTAH, AS A RESULT OF FUEL STARVATION. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE FIRE WALL DURING THE ENSUING OFF-AIRPORT LANDING. DAMAGE WAS ALSO APPARENT TO THE NOSE GEAR, PROPELLER BLADES AND VERTICAL FIN. NO FIRE OR INJURIES OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTEDLY THAT THE ENGINE "JUST QUIT" APPROXIMATELY 3 1/2 HOURS INTO A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM BOULDER, CO TO CAL BLACK AIRPORT, HALLS CROSSING, UT. ON-SITE INSPECTION CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 DEN02LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA066), Jun 29, 2002: Cessna 172M (N725EC), Hite, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper in-flight planning resulting in fuel exhaustion. A factor relating to the accident was the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing attempt.

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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