Cessna 172 N12CT

Summary

On 19 March 2005 at about 23:05 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N12CT was involved in an accident near Nachogdoches, Texas, 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

19 March 2005 at 23:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Nachogdoches, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

A L Mangham Jr. Regional (OCH)

Coordinates

31.5778, -94.7094

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N12CT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lufkin → Nachogdoches

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW05CA090

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper in-flight planning which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 550-hour pilot reported that when he was at a cruise altitude of 2,500 feet mean seal level (msl), when the "engine quit." During the forced landing, the airplane struck the tops of trees, nosed over, and impacted terrain. The pilot further stated that he "thought he ran out of fuel." Examination of the airplane revealed that no fuel was observed in the left fuel tank. The owner reported that during the recovery of the airplane, approximately three gallons of automotive fuel was drained from the right fuel tank.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.