# NTSB SEA90LA020: Cessna 172, N63496, Bremerton, WA, November 21, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 20, 1989, 17:45 local (Nov 21, 1989, 01:45 UTC)
- Place: Bremerton, WA
- Coordinates: 46.529384, -122.139945 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5294&lon=-122.1399&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41151
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA90LA020
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41151/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA020

## Probable cause

FUEL EXHAUSTION AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency

## Analysis

WHILE IN CRUISE FLT IN IMC CONDITIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC HE WAS HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE DUAL STUDENT STATED IT WAS FUEL. ATC VECTORED THE ACFT FOR LDG AT THE NEAREST ARPT. THE ACFT IMPACTED TREES 1.5 MILES NORTHEAST OF BREMERTON ARPT. THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE TANKS OR ODOR OF FUEL AT THE SITE. THE PILOT REPORTED IN AN INTERVIEW THAT THE ENGINE QUIT FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63496](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63496-1992-09-24), registration cancelled 1992-09-24, S/N 17275443 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275443
- Airframe hours: 4361
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Flight Tech, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 19, 1989
- Departed: TIW, TACOMA, WA
- Destination: BFI, SEATTLE, WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PWT, Bremmerton

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,478 total, 94 in this make and model, 1,267 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 190° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PWT, 2 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 19891120046119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891120046119A), Nov 20, 1989: Cessna 172P, Bremerton, WA, Destroyed. Ran out of fuel on a instrument training flight. Crash landed in trees.

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.