# Accident 20240129001999A: Cessna 172H, Terrell, TX, January 29, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 29, 2024, 10:50 local time
- Place: Terrell, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.7228° N, 96.2668° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7228&lon=-96.2668&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8805Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8805Z-2026-01-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172H (registry code 2072424, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Unknown or foreign certificate
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA102) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240129001999A

## Narrative

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

ON 01/29/2024, THE AIRCRAFT BEING OPERATED AS A PRIVATE FLIGHT THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER PERFORMING A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION AND RUN-UP PER THE CHECKLIST, HE AND HIS PASSENGER DEPARTED GKY ARLINGTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 7:50 PM, BOUND FOR GGG EAST TEXAS REGIONAL AIRPORT FOR A ROUTINE TIME-BUILDING FLIGHT. BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL TANKS WERE FULL TO MAXIMUM CAPACITY AT TAKEOFF.

UPON ARRIVAL AT GGG EAST TEXAS REGIONAL AIRPORT, THEY LANDED, CAME TO A FULL STOP, AND PROCEEDED TO BACK-TAXI FOR ANOTHER TAKEOFF TO THEIR DESTINATION, TRL TERRELL MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. AFTER LANDING AT TRL, THEY CAME TO A FULL STOP AND ATTEMPTED TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT. HOWEVER, THE FUEL PUMPS WERE OUT OF ORDER, SO THEY VERIFIED THE REMAINING FUEL WITH A FUEL STICK. THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE FUEL TANK MEASURED IN AT 4 GALLONS, AND THE LEFT-HAND SIDE FUEL TANK MEASURED IN AT A LITTLE ABOVE 12 GALLONS.

AFTER RE-STARTING THE ENGINE, THEY NOTICED THE AIRCRAFT HAD A ROUGH IDLE AND THEN CONTINUED TO TAXI TO PERFORM THE RUN-UP BEFORE TAKEOFF PER THE CHECKLIST. AS HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF TO FLY TO DESTINATION HQZ MESQUITE METRO AIRPORT TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT, THE ENGINE FAILED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT ABOUT 400 TO 450 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND WAS SUCCESSFUL; HOWEVER, IT IMMEDIATELY STOPPED RUNNING AGAIN.

THE PILOT THEN EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING WITH THE INTENT OF LANDING ON A NEARBY STREET THAT WAS VISIBLE FROM THE AIR WITH THE BEST LIGHTING CONDITIONS. DURING THE ATTEMPT, HE RECALLS THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT BEING STRUCK BY SOMETHING, FOLLOWED BY A CRASH LANDING. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED SO FAST THAT HE CAN’T RECALL EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS THAT WAS HIT.

AFTER LANDING, BOTH THE PILOT AND COPILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.

## 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 CEN24LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA102), Jan 30, 2024: Cessna 172 (N8805Z), Terrell, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power during the initial climb due to fuel exhaustion.

## Other reports on N8805Z (1)

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

- [Accident 20000703008409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000703008409A), Jul 3, 2000: Cessna 172H (N8805Z), Kutztown, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) A flight instructor was conducting a re-familiarization flight for a student who had not flown in some time. The student flew the first landing without…

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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