# NTSB LAX94LA359: Cessna 172G, N4328L, Corona, CA, September 11, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 11, 1994, 13:02 local (20:02 UTC) - Place: Corona, CA - Location: 33.8753° N, 117.5664° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Corona, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8753&lon=-117.5664&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28856 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA359 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28856/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA359 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION AND FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE ROUGH TERRAIN WERE FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - poor, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis IN A POST ACCIDENT TELEPHONE INTERVIEW THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE 'RAN OUT OF FUEL.' BEFORE DEPARTURE THE PILOT SAID HE REQUESTED THE FIXED BASE OPERATOR TO PUT 10 GALLONS OF GAS IN THE AIRPLANE FUEL TANKS. AFTER THE FUELING, THE RIGHT FUEL GAUGE INDICATED FULL AND THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE INDICATED 3/4 FULL. HE DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL TANK LEVEL BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. HE ALSO SAID THAT HE OBSERVED SOME MINOR FUEL STAINS ON THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK SUMP DRAIN. ## Factual narrative On September 11, 1994, at 1302 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172G, N4328L, collided with the terrain and nosed over about 2 miles east of Corona Airport, Corona, California, during an emergency landing. The emergency landing resulted from a total loss of engine power while on final approach to runway 25. The pilot was completing a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, operated by PDZ Aviation, Corona Airport, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries; his passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed Bullhead City-Laughlin Airport, Bullhead City, Arizona, at 1100 hours. The pilot told National Transportation Safety Board investigators in a telephone interview conducted on September 12, 1994, that the airplane "ran out of fuel." He said he departed Corona Airport for Bullhead City-Laughlin Airport on September 10, 1994. Before departing Bullhead City-Laughlin Airport, he requested the fixed base operator to put 10 gallons of gas in the airplane fuel tanks. After the fueling, the right fuel gauge indicated full and the left fuel gauge indicated 3/4 full. He did not visually check the fuel tanks before departing on the accident flight. He also said that he observed some minor fuel stains on the left wing fuel tank sump drain. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4328L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4328L-2017-06-19), registration cancelled 2017-06-19, S/N 17254397, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172G - Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17254397 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pdz Aviation - Registered owner: William B. Buries - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: P06, BULLHEAD CITY, AZ - Airport: L66, Corona Municipal, runway 25, 3,200 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 71 total, 23 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 3 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F ## 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 19940911026149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940911026149A), Sep 11, 1994: Cessna 172G, Corona, CA, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel en route. Nosed over on forced landing. Did not top tanks or visually check fuel. 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.