# NTSB LAX08CA214: Cessna 172F, N8881U, Pomona, CA, July 6, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 5, 2008, 18:10 local (Jul 6, 2008, 00:10 UTC) - Place: Pomona, CA - Coordinates: 34.078887, -117.763885 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0789&lon=-117.7639&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68369 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA214 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68369/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA214 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and his failure to refuel the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said that when he started his cross-country flight, 2.4 hours had been flown by the airplane since the fuel tanks had been topped off. His first leg was 1.1 hours in length; he landed and spent approximately 1.5 hours on the ground. He was approximately 1.1 hours into his return flight, turning base for landing, when the engine lost power. He performed a forced landing to a large parking lot and impacted the fence on its perimeter during landing roll. The airplane's right wing lift strut was bent, and the right wing's leading edge was wrinkled and bent. No fuel was found in the airplane's fuel tanks. ## Factual narrative The pilot said that when he started his cross-country flight, 2.4 hours had been flown by the airplane since the fuel tanks had been topped off. His first leg was 1.1 hours in length; he landed and spent approximately 1.5 hours on the ground. He was approximately 1.1 hours into his return flight, turning base for landing, when the engine lost power. He performed a forced landing to a large parking lot and impacted the fence on its perimeter during landing roll. The airplane's right wing lift strut was bent, and the right wing's leading edge was wrinkled and bent. No fuel was found in the airplane's fuel tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8881U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8881U-2017-06-20), registration cancelled 2017-06-20, S/N 17252799, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172F - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17252799 - Engines: Continental O-300-C reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Blue Diamond Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SEE, El Cajon, CA - Destination: POC, Pomona, CA - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 142 total, 142 in this make and model, 72 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: CNO ## 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 20080705843729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080705843729A), Jul 5, 2008: Cessna 172F, La Verne, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) N8881U was flown by 3 renters on the day of the accident. Pilot #1 took the aircraft for a 1.8 hour cross country flight after fueling the aircraft with… 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.