NTSB CHI86LA178 — 1986-07-24 · WEST BRANCH, Michigan, United States

Current FAA registration · N734XX

Make / Model: CESSNA 172N
Year of manufacture: 1977 · 9 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19770603
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A9DC0A

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N734XX Cessna 172N None

Factual narrative

THE STUDENT PILOT'S CFI HAD ADVISED HIM TO REFUEL AT AN EN ROUTE ARPT ON THE X-COUNTY SOLO FLT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FUEL AVAIL AT DEPARTURE ARPT. THE STUDENT DID NOT DIP THETANKS BUT STATED 'BASED ON MY CALCULATIONS OF FUEL BURN THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH FUEL TO COMPLETE THE TRIP WITHOUT REFUELING AT ANOTHER LOCATION'. FUEL EXHAUSTION WAS EXPERIENCED 44 NM NORTHEAST OF THE DESTINATION ARPT AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING THE FORCED LANING. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1986_CHI86LA178.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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