Cessna 172 N8257L accident near Pierson, Florida

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.

NTSB analysis

During a repositioning flight, the engine lost power shortly before reaching the intended destination. The pilot attempted to restart the engine; however, he was unable to restore engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing in a heavily forested area, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, and both wings.

The pilot stated that he performed a pre-flight fuel calculation with a total estimated fuel consumption of 33.75 gallons; the airplane had a 38-gallon usable fuel capacity. The pilot also reported that he had minimal sleep and was fatigued so he did not recalculate the amount of fuel on board during the flight. The pilot stated, “The accident happened due to fuel [exhaustion] and stretching the limits for way too much flying at night in a new-to-me aircraft the first time.” The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA24LA115 for the full record.