FTW00LA188

During a local instrument training flight, the flight instructor forgot to refuel the airplane. During the last practice instrument approach, the engine lost total power and the instructor landed the airplane in a residential area. During the landing, the airplane impacted a street sign. The flight instructor stated that he forgot to refuel the airplane because he was tired and distracted with his critique of the student's flying.

On June 28, 2000, at 2344 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N airplane, N4918G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in a residential area near San Antonio, Texas. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Alpha Tango Flying Services, Inc., of San Antonio, Texas. The flight instructor and the private pilot, who was receiving instruction, were not injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight originated from the San Antonio International Airport at 2130.

According to the instructor's written statement, he thought they had enough fuel for a 1-hour and 30-minute flight. He intended on filling the fuel tanks at the Stinson Municipal Airport (12 nautical miles south of San Antonio International). The flight departed for a local instrument training flight. The student executed holding procedures and an instrument approach at Stinson. The instructor critiqued the student's flight and overlooked the fact that they still had not refueled the airplane. The instructor had the student fly to Castroville (23 nautical miles southwest of San Antonio International, and 20 nautical miles west of Stinson), where the student was to practice another instrument approach; however, upon arrival at Castroville, the pilots found the navigation aid they were going to use was inoperative. The flight then returned to San Antonio, where the instructor had the student practice instrument approaches. While receiving vectors for the last instrument approach, the engine began to lose power. The instructor requested priority handling; however, shortly thereafter the engine lost total power. The instructor landed the airplane in a residential area where the right wing impacted a street sign and the left main landing gear collapsed.

The instructor stated that he forgot to refuel the airplane because he was "fatigued," and "distracted" with the critique of the student's flying.

According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the right wing spar sustained structural damage and the fuel tanks were found empty.