Cessna 172F N5320R

Summary

On 4 September 2005 at about 23:57 local time, a Cessna 172F registered N5320R, operated by Harold H. Bearden, was involved in an accident near Haleyville, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one 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

4 September 2005 at 23:57

Classification

Accident

Location

Haleyville, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

34.2803, -87.6003

Aircraft

Cessna 172F

Registration

N5320R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Harold H. Bearden

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Haleyville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL05CA157

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilots inadequate preflight of the fuel tank resulting in a total loss of engine power in cruise flight due to fuel exhaustion, resulting in a forced landing, and nose over on landing roll out.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated during the preflight inspection that the left and right fuel gauge indicated a quarter tank of fuel. The pilot did not visually check the fuel tank or stick the fuel tank before departing on the flight. While in cruise flight at 1,500 feet MSL, the engine sputtered and lost. The pilot stated he looked at the left and right fuel gauge and they both indicated empty. The pilot made a forced landing to an open field and the airplane collided with a burrow and flipped over. The pilot stated, "there were not a mechanical malfunction, he simply failed to ensure he had sufficient fuel on the airplane during the preflight inspection."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.