Cessna 172N accident near Mckinney, TX
On December 16, 1997, a Cessna 172N (airplane) was involved in an accident near Mckinney, TX. 3 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 16, 1997
- Place
- Mckinney, TX
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.181°N, 96.589°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X09307
NTSB summary
On December 16, 1997, at 0100 central standard time, a Cessna 172N single engine airplane, N1371E, struck trees and terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near McKinney, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The airline transport rated pilot and the two passengers received serious injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed Stuttgart, Arkansas, at 2206 the previous evening. During a personal interview, conducted by the FAA inspector, the right front seat passenger stated that the flight departed Stuttgart and just before 0100, the pilot reported a low fuel condition to this passenger. The passenger added that the aircraft "ran out of fuel." The pilot briefed the passengers for the emergency landing. During telephone interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge (IIC), company maintenance personnel reported that the purpose of the flight was for the pilot to transport a friend of the pilot from Stuttgart, Arkansas, to McKinney, Texas. At 1858, prior to the flight, the pilot topped the fuel tanks with 12 gallons of fuel, performed the aircraft preflight, obtained a weather briefing and planned the cross country flight. The flight departed Gainesville, Texas, at 1915. The mechanic further stated that he informed the pilot that the engine would run lean even with the throttle and mixture full forward in the cockpit. Fuel consumption for the
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate in-flight/planning decision which resulted in continued flight until fuel exhaustion. Related factors were incorrect fuel gauge readings and trees.
More accidents in TX
- Kubicek BB85, Jul 30, 2016
- Robertson C-414, Jul 29, 1982
- Textron Aviation B-300, Jun 30, 2019
- Beech B100, Nov 26, 1983
- Consolidated-Vultee PBY-6A, Oct 13, 1984
Browse: Texas · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
