Cessna 172N N7374D

Summary

On 14 February 1999 at about 08:48 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N7374D was involved in an accident near Fort Ord, California, United States. 2 people were 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.

Date

14 February 1999 at 08:48

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Ord, California, United States

Coordinates

36.7596, -121.6502

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N7374D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Long Beach → Monterey

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX99LA099

Nobody was injured.

Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's becoming lost and disoriented during multiple attempts at completing an ILS approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot attempted three ILS approaches, but reported that he was having problems with the navigation equipment during each approach. At the end of the third approach he advised ARTCC that he was low on fuel, with only about 30 minutes remaining. The pilot relayed through another aircraft that he had visual contact with the airport and was below the clouds. He canceled IFR and reported that landing was assured. He saw an airport beacon ahead, flew toward it, and attempted to activate the pilot-controlled lighting. The lights did not illuminate and the pilot realized he was about midfield of the runway and too high for a safe landing. He initiated a go-around and the engine quit. The aircraft crashed about 7 miles north of the pilot's intended destination airport and about 3/4 miles north of an uncontrolled airport. The aircraft was examined following recovery. No fuel was found in the fuel tanks or lines, and no evidence of leakage was observed. Comparison of the Hobbs meter readings between departure and the accident revealed that the pilot had flown 4.4 hours during the accident flight. The pilot reported that he had not experienced any mechanical problems with the engine or aircraft prior to the accident. The navigation radios in the aircraft were tested with no discrepancies found. A functional test of the ground navigational aids was performed following the accident with no noted discrepancies. The pilot did not provide evidence of instrument currency.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.