# Incident 20240523005479I: Cessna 172G, Rison, AR, May 23, 2024

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 23, 2024, 17:45 local time
- Place: Rison, AR
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9600° N, 92.1936° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rison, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9600&lon=-92.1936&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3671L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3671L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172G (registry code 2072420, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172G
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 335 total, 200 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240523005479I

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 23, 2024, CESSNA 172G, WAS FLYING VFR FROM HOUSTON SOUTHWEST AIRPORT KAXH TO PINE BLUFF REGIONAL AIRPORT/GRIDER FIELD KPBF.  THE PILOT, A COMMERCIAL PILOT WITH A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE, STATED THAT THEY WERE FLYING AT 2,000 FEET MSL WHICH WAS BELOW THE OVERCAST LAYER AT 3,500 FEET AND BELOW THEIR PLANNED ALTITUDE OF 5,500 WHEN HE NOTICED ABOUT ½ WAY TO KPBF THAT THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE WAS LOWER THAN THE RIGHT FUEL GAUGE SO HE MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE RIGHT TANK ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE RPM THEN SUBSEQUENTLY QUIT.  THE AIRMEN TRIED CARBURETOR HEAT AND IT APPEARED TO FIX IT FOR A SECOND THEN THE ENGINE QUIT.  THE AIRMEN THOUGHT HE HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL AND LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD.  THE AIRMEN HAD A SUCCESSFUL OFF AIRPORT LANDING WITH NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND NO INJURIES TO EITHER THE PILOT OR PASSENGER.  DURING THE INVESTIGATION IT WAS NOTED THAT THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING EMPTY, AND THE RIGHT GAUGE WAS SHOWING ABOUT 3/8 OF A TANK.  UPON MEASURING FUEL, THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1.5” OF FUEL IN EACH TANK AND LATER DRAINED BY THE RECOVERY TEAM TO BE ABOUT 3 GALLONS ON EACH SIDE WHICH WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 45 MINS OF CRUISE FUEL.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS ALSO RUN UP PRIOR TO RECOVERY AND IT RAN WELL.  BASED ON THE WEATHER, STATEMENTS FROM THE AIRMEN AND THE FUEL STATUS IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE ENGINE MAY HAVE FAILED DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE.

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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