# NTSB DEN04CA099: Cessna 172N, N737YJ, Laramie, WY, July 5, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 5, 2004, 17:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Laramie, WY - Coordinates: 41.285278, -105.668052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2853&lon=-105.6681&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards Field Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 59572 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04CA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59572/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA099 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's improper inflight decision not to stop and refuel. A contributing factor was the unsuitable terrain on which to make a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane, equipped with standard fuel tanks (43.0 gallons total, 40.0 gallons useable), was fueled to capacity prior to departure. The pilot and his passenger took off and flew for an estimated 4 hours, 14 minutes, before the engine lost power short of their destination. The pilot made a forced landing in a field. Postaccident examination revealed both fuel tanks were empty. The pilot admitted he had "run out of gas." According to a fuel calculations report submitted by the operator, "[If the pilot] received exactly full [fuel], flown exactly [a] straight line, leaned precisely, and the engine performed to the book, he would have arrived at KLAR with 1.8 gallons, or 15 minutes, which is half of VFR minimums and a lot less than safe, especially for a 450 nm trip. I think that says it all." ## Factual narrative On July 5, 2004, approximately 1710 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N737YJ, registered to and operated by University Flying Club School, Inc., of Laramie, Wyoming, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during an off-airport forced landing 15 miles northeast of Laramie. The private pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Camdenton, Missouri, with stops at Clinton, Missouri, and Manhattan, Kansas. It departed Manhattan at 1346 central daylight time, and was en route to Laramie, Wyoming. In a telephone interview with the pilot, and according to the accident report he submitted, he and his passenger departed Camdenton and flew to Clinton. After departing Clinton, they were forced to divert to Manhattan due to deteriorating weather. After weather conditions improved, they departed Manhattan approximately 1248 and flew GPS (global positioning system) direct to Laramie. As they flew over the northeast portion of the city, the engine lost power. The pilot made a forced landing in a field. Postaccident examination revealed both fuel tanks were empty. The pilot said (and wrote), "We ran out of gas." The airplane was equipped with standard fuel tanks (43.0 gallons total, 40.0 gallons useable). At Manhattan, it was reportedly serviced to capacity with 35.6 gallons. According to fuel calculations submitted by a University Flying Club School flight instructor, "[If the pilot] received exactly full [fuel], flown exactly [a] straight line, leaned precisely, and the engine performed to the book, he would have arrived at KLAR with 1.8 gallons, or 15 minutes, which is half of VFR minimums and a lot less than safe, especially for a 450 nm trip. I think that says it all." The airplane had been aloft for an estimated 4 hours, 14 minutes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N737YJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N737YJ-2007-08-15), registration cancelled 2007-08-15, S/N 17269775, built 1977 (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: 17269775 - Airframe hours: 2264 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: University Flying Club School, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 25, 2004, 20 hours before - Departed: MHK, Manhattan, KS - Destination: LAR, Laramie, WY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 3, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 164 total, 152 in this make and model, 121 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 19 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: LAR ## 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 20040705012669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040705012669A), Jul 5, 2004: Cessna 172N, Laramie, WY, Substantial damage. (-23) On a flight from manhattan, Kansas (mhk) to Laramie, Wyoming (lar) Mr. Little depleted the aircraft's fuel supply, and the engine quit. 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.