# Accident 20040120000829A: Cessna 172P, Granada Hills, CA, January 20, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 20, 2004, 13:23 local time
- Place: Granada Hills, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2500° N, 118.5000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2500&lon=-118.5000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5364K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5364K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172P (registry code 2072436, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Pilot flight hours: 2,600 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04CA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA098) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040120000829A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 01/20/2004 DENNIS G. MIDDEN FLEW CE-172-P FROM OAKLAND, CA, (OAK) WITH A DESTINATION OF JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT (SNA). BEFORE DEPARTING OAK MR. MIDDEN ADDED FUEL TO ABOUT 3" BELOW THE FILLER ROCK. HE SAID THE FUEL GAGES READ NEARLY FULL. AFTER TAKING OFF FROM OAK HE TOURED THE CITY BEFORE HEADING SOUTH. NORTH OF VALENCIA, CA, AT 6500' THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH. HE DESCENDED AND ATTEMPTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE ENGINE CAUGHT AND HE CLIMBED UP TO 2500 OR 3000' AND HEADED SOUTH FOR VNY. HE WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON 16R AT VNY, BUT ABOUT 6 MILES SHORT OF VNY THE ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN AND HE LANDED AT A SOCCER FIELD IN GRANADA HILLS, CA. ON LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING FROM A CYCLONE FENCE AND THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE FROM IMPACTING A LARGE CEMENT-FILLED METAL POST. THE INVESTIGATION SHOWED EMPTY WING FUEL TANKS, ALTHOUGH THE FUEL GAGES READ 7 GALLONS IN THE LEFT AND 5 GALLONS IN THE RIGHT TANK. LESS THAN A QUART OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE REST OF THE AIRCRAFT WHEN IT WAS DISASSEMBLED FOR REMOVAL FROM THE SITE. AT THE VNY FSDO MR. MIDDEN WAS ASKED WHETHER HE RAN OUT OF GAS. "I THINK SO" WAS HIS REPLY.

## 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 LAX04CA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA098), Jan 20, 2004: Cessna 172P (N5364K), Granada Hills, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power due to an inadequate fuel supply.

## Other reports on N5364K (4)

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

- [Incident 19990425019919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990425019919I), Apr 25, 1999: Cessna 172P (N5364K), Santa Ana, CA, Minor damage. Mr. Greg till, a student pilot on his first unsupervised solo (he had two supervised solos prior to this event) lost control on his second attempt to land in…
- [Incident 19911021052999I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911021052999I), Oct 21, 1991: Cessna 172P (N5364K), Simi Valley, CA. Student pilot on a solo crosscountry flight had fuel exhaustion. Forced landing on highway.
- [Accident 19891203049001A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891203049001A), Dec 3, 1989: Cessna 172P (N5364K), Van Nuys, CA, Substantial damage. Holding on taxiway was struck from behind by a taxiing P51,N5415V. Tower had cleared P51 to cross runway into 172P.
- [Incident 19871110075359I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871110075359I), Nov 10, 1987: Cessna 172P (N5364K), Van Nuys, CA. Electrical system failed. Landed without position lights or two way radio communication with the tower.

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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