Cessna 172D N2404Y

Summary

On 9 February 2009 at about 02:25 local time, a Cessna 172D registered N2404Y, operated by Captain Kurt's TUG & Barge Inc DBA, was involved in an accident near Bow, Washington, 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

9 February 2009 at 02:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Bow, Washington, United States

Coordinates

48.5598, -122.4392

Aircraft

Cessna 172D

Registration

N2404Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Captain Kurt's TUG & Barge Inc DBA

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bellingham → Burlington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

WPR09CA113

1 person had minor injuries.

A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and failure to verify the fuel quantity on board.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the single-engine airplane reported that he was on the final leg (approximately 10 minutes after takeoff) of a multi-segment cross-country flight when the engine stopped producing power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and landed in a field near the destination airport. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a ditch. The pilot stated that prior to the final leg of the cross-country flight the airplane fuel quantity indicators read "just under" 1/2 and 1/8 full. He added that he did not visually inspect the fuel quantity in the fuel tanks during the preflight inspection. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the firewall. The fuel system, including the fuel tanks, was intact and no leaks were observed. An airframe and powerplant mechanic who recovered the wreckage reported that there was no fuel in the left tank and approximately 3/4 of a gallon of fuel in the right fuel tank. No preaccident mechanical deficiencies with the airframe or engine were noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.