Cessna 172 N4118L accident near Miramar, Florida

Probable cause

The flight instructor’s inadequate preflight and inflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the flight instructor’s injury was her failure to wear the shoulder harness.

NTSB analysis

The airplane’s fuel tanks were filled to capacity and the airplane was flown 1.2 hours before the flight instructor and student pilot departed on the accident flight. The student and instructor flew to a nearby airport, where they performed 11 stop-and-go landings, then departed to return to the departure airport. About 3 miles from the airport, the engine lost total power. The instructor switched the fuel selector from BOTH to the LEFT, then RIGHT tank positions, but engine power was not restored. The airplane impacted trees and a stop sign during the forced landing, resulting in substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that she was not wearing a shoulder harness, which contributed to the extent of her injury.

Based on the hour meter, the airplane was operated about 4.5 hours since the fuel tanks had been filled. Following the accident, about 2.5 gallons of fuel were drained from the left fuel tank, which was 1 gallon more than the unusable amount, and no fuel was noted in the right fuel tank. The fuel strainer and carburetor bowl were absent of fuel. Based on the available information, the loss of engine power was the result of fuel starvation. The instructor stated that she did not use the fuel dipstick to confirm fuel quantity before departing on the flight. Had she done so, it is likely that she would have noted the airplane’s fuel state and fueled the airplane before returning to the departure airport, thus preventing the accident.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA21LA383 for the full record.