What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On October 31, 2002, at 2310 central daylight time, a Cessna 172G, N6072R was substantially damaged during a collision with terrain while executing a precautionary landing because of low fuel/fuel exhaustion 1 mile from fort Stockton, Texas municipal airport. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The non-instrument rated commercial pilot (sole occupant) departed wilcox, AZ with an intended destination of new braunfels, Texas. He stated he was operating in VFR conditions above a solid overcast, became concerned about his fuel and elected to descend through weather not being able to reach the nearest airport. The pilot received minor injuries to his face.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON OCTOBER 31, 2002, AT 2310 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 172G, N6072R WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A COLLISION WITH TERRAIN WHILE EXECUTING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING BECAUSE OF LOW FUEL/FUEL EXHAUSTION 1 MILE FROM FORT STOCKTON, TEXAS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. NIGHT INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED COMMERCIAL PILOT (SOLE OCCUPANT) DEPARTED WILCOX, AZ WITH AN INTENDED DESTINATION OF NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS. HE STATED HE WAS OPERATING IN VFR CONDITIONS ABOVE A SOLID OVERCAST, BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT HIS FUEL AND ELECTED TO DESCEND THROUGH WEATHER NOT BEING ABLE TO REACH THE NEAREST AIRPORT. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES TO HIS FACE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.