# Accident 20251208019799A: Cessna 172P, Deland, FL, December 8, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 8, 2025, 14:00 local time
- Place: Deland, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.0670° N, 81.2838° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0670&lon=-81.2838&mi=10
- Aircraft: N64859, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64859) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172P (registry code 2072436, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-320 series (registry code 41509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA063) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251208019799A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS SURE THAT THE CAUSE OF ENGINE FAILURE WAS DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION BASED ON THE SPUTTERING HE DESCRIBED AT THE TIME OF ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS LAST FUELED AT DELAND AIRPORT ABOUT 7 DAYS PRIOR TO THE CRASH. FUEL RECORDS WERE REQUESTED FROM THE AIRCRAFT OWNER/PILOT BUT NONE WERE PROVIDED. THE AIRCRAFT WINGS WERE DISASSEMBLED FOR TRANSPORTATION TO FLORIDA AIR RECOVERY IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THE COMPLETE ABSENCE OF FUEL WAS NOTED FROM THE WINGS AND FUEL LINES. THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE WERE INSPECTED BY THIS OFFICE IN JACKSONVILLE. NO FUEL WAS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE FUEL FILTER BOWL. NO OTHER ANOMALY WAS OBSERVED ON THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME.

## 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 ERA26LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA063), Dec 8, 2025: Cessna 172 (N64859), DeLand, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s inadequate fuel quantity inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## Other reports on N64859 (3)

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

- [Incident 20180321009799I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180321009799I), Mar 21, 2018: Cessna 172P (N64859), New Smyrna Beac, FL, No damage. 03-21-0218 2135Z N64859. During climb out from X50 Massey air ranch at approximately 1000 feet altitude the pilot declared an emergency with dab and reported…
- [Incident 20150304002819I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150304002819I), Mar 4, 2015: Cessna 172P (N64859), Cedar Key, FL, Minor damage. Aircraft landed long and ran off the end of runway 05 into deep mud and grass. Witnesses stated that the aircraft landed downwind. The aircraft was removed by…
- [Incident 20130519009909I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130519009909I), May 19, 2013: Cessna 172P (N64859), New Smyrna Beac, FL, Minor damage. After the last touch and go, smoke was entering the cockpit from under the dash board. The instructor pilot took control of the aircraft, turned the frequency…

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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