# NTSB ERA24LA269: Cessna 172, N2710U, Eastham, MA, June 16, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 16, 2024, 15:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: Eastham, MA - Coordinates: 41.877356, -69.957479 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8774&lon=-69.9575&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - 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): 194508 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA269 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194508/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194508 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA269 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane’s fuel quantity, which resulted in 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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072410), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072410), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Cessna 172D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=2072410), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072410), [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: [Cessna 172D, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072410), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072410), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis In preparation for a local revenue sightseeing flight with two passengers, the pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and used a generic fuel quantity dipstick that required converting the observed quantity to an actual quantity using a conversion chart. The pilot stated that he inadvertently arrived at an inaccurate quantity; instead of the 12 gallons of fuel he believed was on-board, the airplane likely only had 6 to 7 gallons. About 20 minutes into the scheduled 30-minute flight, the engine lost power completely, and the pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a nearby beach. During the landing roll the nose landing gear collapsed resulting substantial damage to an engine mount tube. As part of the recovery from the beach, less than 1.5 gallons of fuel were drained from both of the airplane’s intact fuel tanks. A postaccident check of each fuel quantity indicating system revealed each gauge indicated empty with the fuel sending unit fully extended. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2710U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2710U), registered now, S/N 17250310, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (D) - Registry model: [Cessna 172D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172d) (registry code 2072410) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17250310 - Year built: 1963 - Airframe hours: 9538 - Engines: Continental O-300D 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 2023, 99 hours before - Departed: CQX, Chatham, MA - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 4, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 270 total, 4 in this make and model, 155 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KPVC, 17 nm away - METAR: KPVC 161956Z AUTO 04006KT 10SM CLR 19/11 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP244 T01890106 ## 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 20240616007409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240616007409A), Jun 16, 2024: Cessna 172D, Chatham, MA, Substantial damage. On June 16, 2024, at approximately 15:40, a Cessna 172D departed from Chatham Municipal Airport (kcqx) on a aerial sightseeing tour with two passengers onboard… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 2, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194508. 8.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17911448&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20For%20MyDMS_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 553 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17910986&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20About%20Dipping%20the%20Fuel%20Tanks_Recd%207%2011%202024_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB record of conversation (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 3 photos, 379 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17923551&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Record%20of%20Convo%20w%20Tim%20Howard%206%2020%202024%20v05_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - fuel quantity indicating system testing (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17923705&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Memo%20For%20Record%20-%20Fuel%20Quantity%20Indicating%20System%20v01-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 478 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17911693&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Exctd%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form)7%209%202024_Redacted-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.