# NTSB ERA25LA200: Cessna 172, N5405T, Florida City, FL, May 8, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 8, 2025, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Florida City, FL
- Coordinates: 25.360915, -80.555356
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.3609&lon=-80.5554&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: Continental Motors, Textron Aviation, FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200137
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA200
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200137/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200137
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA200

## Probable cause

The commercial pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of total engine power due to fuel starvation.

## 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 172E, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072412), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072412), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2072412), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072412), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172E, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072412), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The purpose of the flight was for the pilots to build flight experience, with the commercial pilot practicing simulated instrument meteorological conditions in the left seat, while the private pilot acted as a safety pilot in the right seat. About 2 hours into the night cross-country flight, the airplane sustained a loss of total engine power without any warning or roughness. The commercial pilot tried to restart the engine but was unsuccessful, so the private pilot performed a forced landing to a swamp. During the landing, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Examination of the wreckage 3 days later revealed that the right wing fuel tank contained adequate fuel but the left wing fuel tank contained only residual fuel. The engine was subsequently test run successfully at a recovery facility. The airplane was 61 years old, and its fuel selector handle placard was not as intuitive as other similar models. Specifically, the handle had to be at the 12 o’clock position to select both fuel tanks. The commercial pilot set it at about the 11 o’clock position, which would use only the left fuel tank. It is likely that the commercial pilot exhausted the fuel in the left fuel tank, which resulted in fuel starvation. The commercial pilot also reported that more awareness of the specific aircraft model differences could have prevented the accident.

## Factual narrative

On May 8, 2025, about 1930 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172E airplane, N5405T, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Florida City, Florida. The commercial pilot was not injured and the private pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The purpose of the flight was for the pilots to build flight experience, with the commercial pilot practicing simulated instrument meteorological conditions in the left seat, while the private pilot acted as a safety pilot in the right seat. The flight departed North Perry Airport (HWO), Hollywood, Florida, about 1733, with 38 gallons of fuel. It proceeded out over the Florida Keys and back, with the intended destination of Naples Municipal Airport (APF), Naples, Florida. Near the destination, as the commercial pilot made a left turn, the engine became silent, and she noticed the engine speed indicated below 1,000 rpm. She applied carburetor heat, with no success. She then transferred control to the private pilot so that she could use the Engine Start checklist to attempt to restart the engine. After two unsuccessful restart attempts, the private pilot performed a forced landing in a swamp and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The private pilot reported that there was no jolt or vibration before the engine became silent. Both pilots reported that the fuel selector handle was positioned to Both for the entire flight, and the private pilot reported that he moved it to Off after the accident when he secured the airplane, which also included turning off the master switch and ignition key. Postaccident examination of the wreckage 3 days later revealed that it had sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The inspection noted that the left wing fuel tank contained only residual fuel, and the right wing fuel tank vent was still leaking fuel, consistent with several gallons remaining in the right wing fuel tank. It was also noted that the 1964 Cessna model 172E fuel selector placarding was different from other Cessna model 172 airplanes and not as intuitive (see figure). Figure. Fuel selector as found. (Source: FAA) When asked what clock position the selector handle should be in to select both fuel tanks, the commercial pilot stated 11 o’clock; however, the Both selection was 12 o’clock, and 11 o’clock was between the Both and Left fuel tank selections. Additionally, the private pilot moved the fuel selector handle to the 4:30 position (between Off and Right fuel tank) to turn the fuel off; however, Off was at the 6 o’clock position. The commercial pilot reported that more awareness of the specific aircraft model differences (Cessna 172E versus Cessna 172S) could have prevented the accident. The wreckage was subsequently transported to a recovery facility where a successful test run of the engine was performed. Once fuel was introduced to the engine, it was started on the airframe and rancontinuously.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5405T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5405T), registered now, S/N 17251305 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (E)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17251305
- Year built: 1964
- Airframe hours: 5142
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: EnvySky
- Registered owner: Agt Tech Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 28, 2025
- Departed: HWO, Pembroke Pines, FL
- Destination: apf, Naples, FL
- Airport: N/A
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 5, 2024; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 976 total, 22 in this make and model, 876 as pilot in command, 237 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 33; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 25, 2025; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 218 total, 12 in this make and model, 129 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: HST, 10 nm away
- METAR: KHST 082355Z AUTO 10006KT 10SM CLR 26/20 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP145 T02610204 10305 20261 53003 $

## 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 20250508006429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250508006429A), May 8, 2025: Cessna 172E, Florida City, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Florida City, Florida. The pilots performed an off airport landing after reporting…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200137. 7.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18816395&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for the record - FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18816505&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR-Rel.pdf
- Excerpts from maintenance logbooks (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 257 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18816175&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mx%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 888 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18816835&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs%20-Rel.pdf
- Engine test run video (MP4, 17 seconds, 2GB) (item 5, MP4, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18816405&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Engine%20Run-Rel.mp4
- Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 6, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18816515&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Forms_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.

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