# NTSB CEN25LA355: Cessna 172M, N92356, Lubbock, TX, August 27, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 26, 2025, 21:20 local (Aug 27, 2025, 02:20 UTC) - Place: Lubbock, TX - Coordinates: 33.649871, -101.81869 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6499&lon=-101.8187&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2025 - 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): 200917 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA355 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200917/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200917 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA355 ## Probable cause The pilot’s mismanagement of available fuel, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he completed a 200 nautical mile cross country flight, then returned to the departure airport for touch-and-go landings. During the second touch-and-go, the engine experienced a loss of power about 200 to 300 ft agl. The pilot was unable to restore engine power and executed a forced landing to a field, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. After the accident the pilot reported that he did not switch the fuel selector to the tank with available fuel. The airplane contained about 36 gallons of fuel; 18 gallons in each fuel tank. The total flight time was about 2 hours and 20 minutes. The estimated fuel consumption rate for this engine was 8 gallons per hour. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N92356](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N92356), registered now, S/N 17261567, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17261567 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 4751.8 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hub City Aviation Academy LLC - Registered owner: Hub City Aviation Academy LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 20, 2025, 25 hours before - Departed: LBB, Lubbock, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: LBB - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 27, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 118.7 total, 13.9 in this make and model, 84.4 as pilot in command, 49.8 in the last 90 days, 19.8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 80° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KLBB, 1 nm away - METAR: KLBB 270153Z 08012KT 10SM BKN120 23/18 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP186 T02280183 ## 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 20250826015259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250826015259A), Aug 26, 2025: Cessna 172M, Lubbock, TX, Substantial damage. On August 26th 2025, a Cessna 172 crashed after taking off from Lubbock Preston international airport (lbb). Aircraft impacted the ground in a level atttide,… ## Other investigations on N92356 (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 WPR20CA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA209), Jun 8, 2020: Cessna 172 (N92356), Lubbock, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper approach and descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200917. 6.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19556890&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 715 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19303252&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 694 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19556961&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20summary%20of%20pilot%20interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 835 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19263415&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.