# NTSB CEN24LA019: Cessna 172C, N1413Y, Wichita, KS, October 20, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 20, 2023, 18:55 local (23:55 UTC) - Place: Wichita, KS · Along a street in a commercial area - Coordinates: 37.676924, -97.393676 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6769&lon=-97.3937&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: 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): 193286 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193286/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193286 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA019 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and 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. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072408), [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 172C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072408), [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 172C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that she filled the airplane with fuel before departure. After flying for about 4 hours, the engine lost power and she executed a forced landing on a road about 1.5 miles from the destination airport. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted two street signs and a power pole guy wire which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane’s left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the fuel system; the fuel tanks were empty, and there was no evidence of a fuel leak. About 8 ounces of fuel were recovered from the gascolator. The pilot noted that verification of total fuel onboard before each departure and more accurate usage of the airplane’s performance charts could have prevented the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1413Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1413Y), registered now, S/N 17249113, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172C - Registry model: [Cessna 172C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172c) (registry code 2072408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17249113 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 2136 - Engines: Continental O-300D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 21, 2022, 29 hours before - Departed: AAO, Wichita, KS - Destination: ICT, Wichita, KS - Airport: ICT, Dwight D Eisenhower, runway 19L, 7,302 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 16, 2022; seat: left; flight hours: 288.9 total, 110.7 in this make and model, 204.4 as pilot in command, 20.9 in the last 90 days, 9.1 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.83 inHg - Observed at: KICT, 12 nm away - METAR: KICT 202353Z 19007KT 10SM CLR 22/06 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP096 T02170061 10300 20217 56008 ## 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 20231020017739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231020017739A), Oct 20, 2023: Cessna 172C, Wichita, KS, Substantial damage. The private pilot departed from york municipal airport (kjyr) after recieving 28.3 gallons of fuel. Flew for 3 hours and 43 minutes, making stops at omaha… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193286. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 576 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16831684&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%201%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16831927&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16850501&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-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.