# NTSB LAX08CA164: Cessna 172, N6494E, Santa Rosa, CA, June 6, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 5, 2008, 19:05 local (Jun 6, 2008, 02:05 UTC) - Place: Santa Rosa, CA - Coordinates: 38.505279, -122.807777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5053&lon=-122.8078&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68179 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA164 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68179/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA164 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper in-flight decision making and inadequate fuel consumption calculations that resulted in fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot took off with 38 gallons of fuel on board, and planned a 3-hour flight to his refueling stop. After departure he followed the wrong highway northeast. He realized his mistake, adjusted his course to intercept the correct highway, and continued on to his destination. He flew at 4,500 feet mean sea level (msl) and 110 miles per hour (mph) ground speed according to his global positioning system (GPS). Winds aloft at 4,950 feet msl were from 320 degrees at 21 knots, providing a strong headwind. After 4.4 hours of flight, the airplane ran out of fuel near his refueling stop, and the pilot made a forced landing into a vineyard near the airport. ## Factual narrative In a written statement, the pilot reported that he took off with 38 gallons of fuel on board. The flight northwest from Van Nuys, California, to Rohnerville, California, should have taken 3 hours 30 minutes. After departure the pilot believed he was following highway I-5, but became confused when he did not recognize landmarks. He realized he had followed highway 14 through Palmdale, California. When the airplane was north of Palmdale, he corrected his course toward I-5 and his destination. He descended from 8,500 feet mean sea level (msl) to 2,500 feet msl in an attempt to find smooth air and fastest ground speed. He climbed to 4,500 feet msl and flew at 110 miles per hour (mph) ground speed according to his global positioning system (GPS). He did not keep track of the elapsed time from takeoff because he had made the trip to his refueling stop, Santa Rosa, California, in 3 hours before. He began a descent into Santa Rosa, and at 800 feet above ground level (agl), the engine rpm (revolutions per minute) dropped abruptly and the pilot realized the airplane had run out of fuel. He made a forced landing into a vineyard near the airport. At the time of the accident, the Hobbs meter showed an elapsed flight time of 4.4 hours. The pilot indicated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. At 1700 Pacific daylight time, winds aloft at Oakland International Airport were reported from 290 degrees at 14 knots at 2,585 feet msl. At 4,950 feet msl, winds were reported from 320 degrees at 21 knots. At 6,351 feet msl, winds were reported from 324 degrees at 22 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6494E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6494E-2017-06-30), registration cancelled 2017-06-30, S/N 46594, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46594 - Engines: Continental O-300 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Barry Sanford - Registered owner: Barry Sanford - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2008 - Departed: KVNY, Van Nuys, CA - Destination: KFOT, Fortuna, CA - Airport: KSTS, Sonoma County Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review September 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 560 total, 475 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 330° at 15 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: STS ## 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 20080605834409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080605834409A), Jun 5, 2008: Cessna 172, Santa Rosa, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Cessna enroute to Santa Rosa airport ran out of fuel and crashed in a vineyard 1.5 miles short of Santa Rosa airport. Minor injuries to pilot.… ## Other investigations on N6494E (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 OAK73DVG07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73DVG07), Aug 2, 1972: Cessna 172 (N6494E), Whiskeytown, CA, substantial damage 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.