# NTSB WPR23LA127: Cessna 172L, N7010Q, Lewiston, ID, March 11, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 11, 2023, 11:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Lewiston, ID · Golf course - Coordinates: 46.38359, -117.02753 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3836&lon=-117.0275&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106883 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106883/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106883 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA127 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s inadequate fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072432), [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 172L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, he planned to complete back-to-back flight lessons with two students. His students completed the preflight inspection and each tank measured about half full. The flight instructor verified that the fuel gauges indicated sufficient fuel for both lessons. During the second flight lesson with a student pilot at the controls, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and force-landed on a golf course. The airplane collided with trees during landing, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The flight instructor reported that the airplane ran out of fuel, and that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7010Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7010Q), registered now, S/N 17260310 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17260310 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 4223 - Engines: Lycomming O-320-E20 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Mosman Matthew J - Registered owner: Mosman Matthew J - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 19, 2022, 69 hours before - Departed: KLWS, Lewiston, ID - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: LWS - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 21, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,560 total, 950 in this make and model, 4,407 as pilot in command, 108 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 52; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 13 total, 13 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KLWS, 1 nm away - METAR: KLWS 111936Z 02007KT 10SM BKN049 OVC065 08/M01 A2995 RMK AO2 T00781006 ## 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 20230311010689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230311010689A), Mar 11, 2023: Cessna 172L, Lewiston, ID, Substantial damage. In preparation for two training flights, the CFI directed the two students to conduct the preflight. The students determined by a dip stick that one tank… ## Other investigations on N7010Q (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 SEA72FYI01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA72FYI01), Jul 1, 1972: Cessna 172L (N7010Q), Medford, OR, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106883. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15237675&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA127%20Flattend_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 889 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15238349&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA127%20photo%20docket-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15429389&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation%20WPR23LA127-Rel.pdf 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.