Cessna 172 N6270E
31 August 1989 · Bullhead City, Arizona, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 31 August 1989 at about 00:40 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N6270E was involved in an accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Bullhead City, Arizona, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172
- Registration
- N6270E
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Bountiful → Bullhead City
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX89LA292
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB 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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 172 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Mar 1989 | Cessna 172M | Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 21 Mar 1989 | Cessna 172H | Melbourne, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 Jan 1989 | Cessna 172 | Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Nov 1989 | Cessna 172 | Bremerton, Washington, United States | Flight Tech, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Aug 1989 | Cessna 172P | Superior, Wisconsin, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Jan 1989 | Cessna 172 | Longmont, Colorado, United States | Denver Air Center | No injuries | - |
All 12,209 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Sep 1989 | Cessna 180 | Flagstaff, Arizona, United States | George Thomas | No injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 1989 | Cessna 152 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Button Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Sep 1989 | Robinson R22 | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States | Arizona Wing and Rotor | No injuries | - |
| 8 Oct 1989 | Roger Nelson AERONICA/T | Sierra Vista, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 1989 | Hiller UH-12E | Yuma, Arizona, United States | West Farm Air Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Oct 1989 | Rand Engineering KR-II | Eloy, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |