# Accident 20040905021059A: Cessna 172E, Port Angeles, WA, September 5, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 5, 2004, 16:25 local time
- Place: Port Angeles, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.1222° N, 123.6267° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1222&lon=-123.6267&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5788T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5788T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172E (registry code 2072412, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172E
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,281 total, 145 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA04LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA182) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040905021059A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT ON HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THAT HE STUCK HIS FINGERS IN BOTH TANKS AND COULD FEEL FUEL ON HIS FINGERS. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED APEX AIRPORT (S42), SILVERDALE, WA. AT 1358 WHILE CONDUCTING A SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AT THE ACCIDENT SITE INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD IN ALL PROBABILITY RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE PILOT HAD ESTIMATED THAT HE HAD BEEN AIRBORNE APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS WHEN HE HAD OBSERVED THE RIGHT TANK INDICATING 3/4 FULL. THE PILOT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER THAT THE RIGHT TANK INDICATED 1/4 TANK OF FUEL REMAINING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DECIDED THAT HE SHOULD HEAD FOR PORT ANGELES TO GET FUEL AND THAT APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE HAD QUIT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SWITCHED TO THE LEFT TANK WHICH INDICATED THAT HE HAD 1/4 TANK AND THE ENGINE HAD STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY WHEN APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE QUIT AGAIN. THE PILOT SPOTTED A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES WEST OF PORT ANGELES AIRPORT AND LANDED A LITTLE LONG WHERE HE ENCOUNTERED A DITCH.

## 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 SEA04LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA182), Sep 5, 2004: Cessna 172E (N5788T), Port Angeles, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate inflight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of power. Factors contributing to the accident included the fence and the ditch.

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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