- Date
- October 7, 2006, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place
- Jay, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1425YCessna 172C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 31, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20061007021779A
- Case key
- 64685
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that the engine stopped and he elected to land in a cotton field. As the airplane flew under electrical power lines during the approach to the field, it impacted bushes and a fence before coming to a stop. Both wings and windshield were damaged due to the impact. The mechanic that was instructed by the FAA representative to examine the airplane at the accident site stated that the fuel selector valve was found half way between the "both" and "right" fuel tank. The left fuel tank was empty when inspected. About one gallon of clean fuel was drained from the right fuel tank. No presence of fuel was found in the carburetor when inspected. There were no indications of a fuel leak, breach of fuel tanks, nor discrepancies with the fuel system.
Factual narrative
On October 7, 2006, about 0920 central daylight time, a Cessna 172C, N1425Y, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, impacted a fence during a forced landing near Jay, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot received minor injuries and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from the Brewton Municipal Airport, Brewton, Alabama earlier that day, about 0840.
The pilot stated the engine stopped and he elected to land in a cotton field. As the airplane flew under electrical power lines during the approach to the field, it impacted bushes and a fence before coming to a stop. Both wings and windshield were damaged due to the impact.
The mechanic that was instructed by the FAA representative to examine the airplane at the accident site stated that the fuel selector valve was found half way between the "both" and "right" fuel tank. The left fuel tank was empty when inspected. About one gallon of clean fuel was drained from the right fuel tank. No presence of fuel was found in the carburetor when inspected. There were no indications of a fuel leak, breach of fuel tanks, nor discrepancies with the fuel system.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1425Y
- Reported as
- Cessna 172C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17249125
- Engine
- Continental O-300-D, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 12J · Brewton, AL
- Airport
- 12J · Brewton
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 430 total · 430 in this make and model · 15 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 10 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 162 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.