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NTSB Report
August 31, 1989 · Cessna 172 · N6270E
Bullhead City, AZ
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 31, 1989
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Bullhead City, AZ
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Tail Number
N6270E
Operator
Advanced Processing
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX89LA292
The airport UNICOM operator reported that he was in radio contact with the pilot. The operator stated that the pilot reported he was out of fuel and executing an emergency landing about 10 miles north of the airport. The pilot said that he departed BTF with 38 gallons of usable fuel on board for the 350 nm trip, which he reportedly had made many times before. The pilot said that the typical enroute time for the trip was 3.5 to 4.0 hours with a fuel consumption of 24 to 28 gallons. After takeoff, the pilot changed the fuel selector to the left tank and ran it dry, a procedure he typically used for this trip. The pilot noted that he encountered headwinds enroute and the left tank went dry earlier than normal, however, 'the early switch did not cause any concern.' At the time of the accident, the estimated elapsed time enroute was four hours and forty minutes.
NTSB Probable Cause
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY PERFORM INFLIGHT FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS TO ENSURE THE ADEQUACY OF THE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE FLIGHT'S COMPLETION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF THE STRONGER THAN ANTICIPATED HEADWIND COMPONENT TO THE FUEL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FLIGHT.
Full Narrative
THE AIRPORT UNICOM OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE HE WAS IN RADIO CONTACT WITH THE PILOT. THE OPERATOR STATED THAT THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS OUT OF FUEL AND EXECUTING AN EMERGENCY LANDING ABOUT 10 MILES NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE DEPARTED BTF WITH 38 GALLONS OF USABLE FUEL ON BOARD FOR THE 350 NM TRIP, WHICH HE REPORTEDLY HAD MADE MANY TIMES BEFORE. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE TYPICAL ENROUTE TIME FOR THE TRIP WAS 3.5 TO 4.0 HOURS WITH A FUEL CONSUMPTION OF 24 TO 28 GALLONS. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT CHANGED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT TANK AND RAN IT DRY, A PROCEDURE HE TYPICALLY USED FOR THIS TRIP. THE PILOT NOTED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED HEADWINDS ENROUTE AND THE LEFT TANK WENT DRY EARLIER THAN NORMAL, HOWEVER, 'THE EARLY SWITCH DID NOT CAUSE ANY CONCERN.' AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE ESTIMATED ELAPSED TIME ENROUTE WAS FOUR HOURS AND FORTY MINUTES.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:40 MST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftCessna 172
Tail NumberN6270E
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAdvanced Processing
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300-A · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 48 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO