Cessna 172N N6388F

Summary

On 30 April 2001 at about 04:45 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N6388F was involved in an accident near Marfa, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 April 2001 at 04:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Marfa, Texas, United States

Coordinates

30.6231, -104.2506

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N6388F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Van Horn → Marfa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW01LA112

2 people had minor injuries.

fuel exhaustion resulting in a total loss of engine power in cruise flight due to the pilot's failure to refuel the aircraft. Contributing factors were the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing, and the dark night condition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight departed on an instrument flight rules (IFR) dark night cross-country flight. While en route, the pilot reported to the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) that he was low on fuel and subsequently, landed at an en route airport to refuel. After departing the airport, the pilot reported to the ARTCC that he was unable to obtain fuel. Therefore, he elected to proceed to another en route airport to refuel. Before reaching the second airport, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing, and during the landing, the airplane struck several plants before coming to rest upright on a small mesa.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.