# NTSB CEN25LA377: Cessna 172F, N7774A, Lancaster, TX, September 13, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 13, 2025, 00:01 local (05:01 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, TX - Coordinates: 32.587406, -96.726525 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5874&lon=-96.7265&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 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): 200998 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA377 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200998/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200998 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA377 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning and failure to monitor the fuel consumption 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. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Knowledge: knowledge of equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot intended to complete a 4-hour night flight while following a company multi-engine airplane. Before departure, the airplane was serviced with about 18 gallons of fuel; the main fuel tanks were full (36 gallons usable), and the auxiliary fuel tank was empty. The pilot thought that the airplane contained 53 gallons of usable fuel, even though the auxiliary tank was empty. During final approach to the destination airport the engine lost total power, and the pilot made a forced landing into the airport perimeter fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks remained intact and undamaged. A few ounces of fuel were found in the left main tank, and the right main and auxiliary tanks were empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7774A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7774A), registered now, S/N 17252168, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17252168 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 6538.21 - Engines: Continental Motors O-300D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Saydun LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2025, 27 hours before - Departed: MXA, Manila, AR - Destination: LNC, Lancaster, TX - Airport: LNC, Lancaster Rgnl, runway 13/31, 6,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 7, 2025; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 360.2 total, 184.7 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KLNC ## 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 20250913014449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250913014449A), Sep 13, 2025: Cessna 172F, Lancaster, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that he arrived at the airport that morning around 6 am for a time building flight with another rated pilot who did not show up. He was asked… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200998. 33.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 741 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19557235&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20and%20pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 790 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19567224&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20email%202_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Owner's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 290 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19557653&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Owner%20email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 810 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19557893&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Exam%20email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 5 photos, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19558737&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 14.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19558210&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Annual%20inspection_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Fuel receipt (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 13.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19558450&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fuel%20receipt_Redacted-Rel.pdf - ADS-B kml file (item 8, KML, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19558220&FileExtension=kml&FileName=N7774-track-press_alt_uncorrected-Rel.kml 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.