# NTSB CEN25LA099: Cessna 172N, N2913E, Pearland, TX, February 17, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 16, 2025, 22:47 local (Feb 17, 2025, 04:47 UTC) - Place: Pearland, TX - Coordinates: 29.526245, -95.246001 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5262&lon=-95.2460&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: 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): 199713 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199713/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199713 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA099 ## Probable cause The pilot’s poor flight planning and decision making, which resulted in a 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 172N, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072434), [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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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 172N, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072434), [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. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that about 10 miles away from his intended destination, following a cross-country flight, the airplane experienced “engine or fuel problems.” He stated that he performed the emergency procedures and that the engine power did not improve. The pilot contacted air traffic control and diverted to a closer airport. He stated that he forgot to extend the airplane’s flaps during his approach, and the airplane “came in to land extremely fast.” According to the pilot, the airplane touched down midfield, and the pilot determined that there was insufficient usable runway and he initiated a go-around. The airplane reached about 300-400 ft above ground level and subsequently lost all engine power. The airplane impacted terrain and came to rest inverted in trees, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that both fuel tanks were intact and contained no observable fuel. There were no discernible indications of fuel on nearby vegetation or fuel dye stains on any airplane surfaces. The pilot discussed his cross-country flight with a flight instructor before departing. According to the instructor, the pilot stated that the total flight time would be 4 hours. The instructor told the pilot to purchase fuel once he landed at his destination before returning, and the pilot acknowledged. According to the pilot, he conducted a touch-and-go landing before departing back to his original departure point. The pilot stated that he did not refuel because both fuel tank gauges indicated that they were above half full. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2913E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2913E), registered now, S/N 17271371, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271371 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 12814.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Flying Tigers Flight School Ltd - Registered owner: Flying Tigers Flight School Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 20, 2025, 45.2 hours before - Departed: EFD, Houston, TX - Destination: EFD, Houston, TX - Airport: LVJ, Pearland Regional Airport, runway 32, 4,313 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review December 30, 2022; seat: left; flight hours: 252 total, 171.1 as pilot in command, 19.4 in the last 90 days, 19.4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 20° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: KLVJ - METAR: KLVJ 170453Z AUTO 02004KT 10SM CLR 08/02 A3031 RMK AO2 SLP263 T00830022 ## 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 20250216001569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250216001569A), Feb 16, 2025: Cessna 172N, Pearland, TX, Substantial damage. On February 16, 2025, at 2247(local), a CE-172N, operated by a local flight school, crashed a little over 1400 feet off the departure end of runway 32 and… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 29, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199713. 7.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18606312&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Form%206120.1%20NTSB_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18609539&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Witness statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18613406&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18613956&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Statment-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.