# NTSB CEN23LA396: Cessna 172G, N1374F, Neola, IA, September 3, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 2, 2023, 19:15 local (Sep 3, 2023, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Neola, IA · Cultivated field - Coordinates: 41.448021, -95.631784 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4480&lon=-95.6318&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 192997 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA396 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192997/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192997 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA396 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane was full of fuel before he departed for the cross-country flight. After flying for about 2 hours and 50 minutes, with a significant headwind, he decided to divert to an airport to refuel. During his attempt to refuel, it was discovered that the fuel pumps were out of order, and he did not see the active notice to airmen (NOTAM) for the out of order fuel pumps. The pilot calculated the fuel remaining in the airplane and departed for his destination. After flying for about 40 minutes, the engine lost power and he executed a forced landing on a road about 12 miles from the destination airport. During the landing, the airplane impacted a swale and nosed over adjacent to the road which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot noted that a more thorough flight planning and a more accurate use of the airplane’s performance charts could have prevented the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1374F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1374F), registered now, S/N 17254869, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172G - Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17254869 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 2287.53 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 2023, 25.83 hours before - Departed: SKY, Sac City, IA - Destination: CBF, Council Bluffs, IA - Airport: KCBF - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 29, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 97 total, 46 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KCBF, 13 nm away - METAR: KCBF 021215Z AUTO 19006KT 10SM CLR 19/14 A3002 RMK AO2 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20230903016359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230903016359A), Sep 3, 2023: Cessna 172G, Neola, IA, Substantial damage. Airman used tach time for fuel monitoring purposes. Didn't realize the differnce in hobbs vs tach time for fuel /flight monitoring purposes. Airman didn't… ## Other investigations on N1374F (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 CHI07CA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA025), Nov 17, 2006: Cessna 172G (N1374F), Ankeny, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to land on an unlighted runway at night, and her resulting failure to attain a proper touchdown point leading to the landing over run. Contributing factors were the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192997. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16885516&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%201%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 647 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16885438&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.