# NTSB ERA25LA194: Cessna 172, N127EP, Hastings, FL, May 3, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 3, 2025, 11:29 local (15:29 UTC) - Place: Hastings, FL · Intersection of Hasting BLVD and Leonard Rd. - Coordinates: 29.707341, -81.504369 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7073&lon=-81.5044&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2025 - 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): 200104 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200104/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200104 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA194 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a 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 172P, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072436), [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 172P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072436), [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. - [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072436), [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 172P, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot planned to perform a 15-minute-long local flight in the airport traffic pattern. During his preflight inspection, he visually checked the fuel quantity in both the left and right tanks, observing there was fuel inside that appeared to be an adequate amount. He did not measure or otherwise quantify the amount of fuel but did see that the fuel quantity gauges in the cockpit indicated 10 gallons. Shortly after departure, during the climbing left turn to crosswind, the engine stopped producing power. He turned back toward the airport and attempted to land on the runway, but there was a tailwind, and the airplane was too fast and high above the ground to safely land so he attempted a forced landing in a mature cabbage field. The airplane’s nose landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the resulting impact resulted in substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage and right wing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that both of the intact fuel tanks were absent of fuel, and when the electrical system was turned on, the fuel quantity gauges in the cockpit indicated 1/8 and 1/4-full for the left and right tank respectively. Following the accident, the pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and stated that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. He further stated that the fuel in the tanks looked like it was deeper than it was due to an optical illusion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N127EP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N127EP), registered now, S/N 172-76481, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (P) - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172-76481 - Year built: 1985 - Airframe hours: 17771 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2025 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 13FA, Earle Airpark ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 18, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 858 total, 90 in this make and model, 795 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point -31 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: 28J, 9 nm away - METAR: METAR K28J 031535Z AUTO 20008KT 160V220 10SM CLR 29/M35 A2999 RMK AO2= ## 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 20250503016939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250503016939A), May 3, 2025: Cessna 172P, Hastings, FL, Substantial damage. On Saturday, may 3rd, at approximately 11:30AM, the pilot had an off-field landing with [privacy data omitted] a Cessna 172, just off the north end of the… ## Other investigations on N127EP (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 ERA12CA466](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA466), Jul 18, 2012: Cessna 172P (N127EP), St. Augustine, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Undetermined due to a lack of information about when the damage to the airplane occurred. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200104. 6.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18941356&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20N127EP_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18944196&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20summary%20of%20event%20N127EP_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - pilot interview summary (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18944450&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20of%20Conversation_Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance logbook excepts (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18942227&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Logbook%20Excerpts_N127EP_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Wreckage examination summary (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 255 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18940624&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary_N127EP-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 769 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18942395&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_N127EP-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.