ERA26LA012

On October 10, 2025, about 2015 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172G, N4390L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Sandersville, Geogia. The pilot was not injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. According to the pilot, maintenance had just been completed on the airplane, and the purpose of this flight was to take it back to the airport where the airplane was based. He performed a normal preflight inspection of the airplane and stated that the engine run-up was normal. The pilot also confirmed that he had used a measuring stick to check the fuel quantity. During the departure, he reported that the airplane left the ground, but about 250 ft above ground level, the engine rpm began to drop. The pilot attempted to quickly troubleshoot by “pumping” the throttle lever and verifying the fuel selector position. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude and impacted the tops of trees. A postaccident examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the wing fuel tanks contained fluid that smelled and appeared visually consistent with automotive fuel. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The airplane contained avionics that were capable of recording airframe and engine data. These were retained for further examination and data download. The wreckage was retained for further examination.