# NTSB ERA24LA115: Cessna 172, N8257L, Pierson, FL, February 16, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 16, 2024, 01:40 local (06:40 UTC) - Place: Pierson, FL - Coordinates: 29.145388, -81.41857 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1454&lon=-81.4186&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193812 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193812/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193812 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA115 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power. ## 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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [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: [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a repositioning flight, the engine lost power shortly before reaching the intended destination. The pilot attempted to restart the engine; however, he was unable to restore engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing in a heavily forested area, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, and both wings. The pilot stated that he performed a pre-flight fuel calculation with a total estimated fuel consumption of 33.75 gallons; the airplane had a 38-gallon usable fuel capacity. The pilot also reported that he had minimal sleep and was fatigued so he did not recalculate the amount of fuel on board during the flight. The pilot stated, “The accident happened due to fuel [exhaustion] and stretching the limits for way too much flying at night in a new-to-me aircraft the first time.” The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N8257L (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (H) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17256457 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 6350.2 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 2024, 4 hours before - Departed: ASD, Slidell, LA - Destination: DED, Deland, FL - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 28, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,252.2 total, 15 in this make and model, 1,178.4 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KDED, 9 nm away - METAR: METAR KDED 160715Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 12/11 A3011 RMK AO2 T01170105= ## 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 20240216003689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240216003689A), Feb 16, 2024: Cessna 172H, De Leon Springs, FL, Destroyed. Pilot departed (kasd) slidell, la at 2030 to relocatre aircraft to (kded) deland, FL but exhausted fuel approx. 20 miles from airport and crashed in the lake… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193812. 7.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16964185&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20N8257L_Form6120NTSB_02.26.2024_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16963305&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20Accident%20Report-N8257L_C172H_02.16.2024_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16963683&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20Investigation%20Photographs-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.