NTSB LAX90LA222 — 1990-05-17 · FRESNO, California, United States

Current FAA registration · N3709D

Make / Model: CESSNA 182A
Year of manufacture: 1957 · 33 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19570610
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A43762

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N3709D Cessna 182A Minor

Probable cause & findings

FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT HAD BEEN HANDED OFF TO FRESNO TOWER FROM APPROACH CONTROL, AND HE HAD BEEN REQUESTED TO EXTEND HIS DOWNWIND TO LAND BEHIND A CESSNA CONQUEST. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE STATED 'I JUST RAN OUT OF FUEL. DON'T THINK I CAN MAKE THE RUNWAY.' THE PILOT STATED HE HAD 4 HOURS OF FUEL ON BOARD FOR THE 3.5 HOUR TRIP. HE ALSO STATED HE VISUALLY CHECKED THE FUEL PRIOR TO DEPARTING FOR FRESNO, BUT DID NOT USE A MEASURING DEVICE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1990_LAX90LA222.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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