Cessna 172 N12115 accident near Akron, Ohio

Probable cause

The pilots’ improper preflight fuel planning and in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

NTSB analysis

The pilot fueled the airplane before takeoff on the last leg of the cross-country flight. As he began the descent toward his home airport, the pilot noted that the fuel gauges were indicating lower than he had ever observed them to be. Shortly after he turned to a nearby airport to purchase additional fuel, the engine stopped producing power. During the forced landing, the airplane’s landing gear impacted trees, and the airplane descended nose-first to the ground, substantially damaging the fuselage and right wing.

Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of fuel in the fuel tanks, fuel lines, or carburetor. No preimpact anomalies or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation were observed. Fuel calculations for the takeoff and cruise portions of the accident flight revealed that between about 2 and 6 gallons of fuel could have remained at the time of the accident; however, these calculations did not account for improper fuel mixture leaning or fuel used during start, taxi, and run-up. Given that the pilot did not lean the mixture during the cross-country flight, it is likely the airplane’s fuel supply had been completely exhausted, resulting in the total loss of engine power. Had appropriate preflight fuel planning and inflight fuel monitoring been performed by the pilot, the fuel exhaustion likely would have been prevented.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA22LA298 for the full record.