# NTSB FTW00LA188: Cessna 172N, N4918G, San Antonio, TX, June 29, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 2000, 23:44 local (Jun 29, 2000, 04:44 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.540828, -98.489616 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5408&lon=-98.4896&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 8, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49554 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA188 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49554/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA188 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to refuel the airplane, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Contributing factors were the flight instructor's fatigued condition and diverted attention. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - fatigue, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4918G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4918G-2016-06-23), registration cancelled 2016-06-23, S/N 17273465, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273465 - Airframe hours: 6867 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alpha Tango Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 14, 2000, 50 hours before - Departed: SAT - Airport: SAT, San Antonio International, runway 12R, 5,519 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: right; flight hours: 1,810 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 280 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SAT, 3 nm away ## 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 20000628010849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000628010849A), Jun 28, 2000: Cessna 172N, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot stated that while practicing different maneuvers for his check ride the next morning, the aircraft ran out of fuel. The pilot landed… ## Other investigations on N4918G (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 FTW95LA386](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA386), Sep 9, 1995: Cessna 172N (N4918G), Kerrville, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation and his failure to use all the available runway. A factor was the dark night. 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.