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LAX91LA286

1991-07-04 · FLAGSTAFF, Arizona, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport FLG

Current FAA registration · N64556

Make / Model
CESSNA 172P
Year of manufacture
1982 · 9 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19820129
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A87AF4

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING OF FUEL REQUIREMENTS TO ACCOMPLISH THE INTENDED FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR WAS THE FENCE.

Factual narrative

A CESSNA 150K COLLIDED WITH FENCE AND NOSED OVER IN AN OPEN FIELD AFTER A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS A RESULT OF FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF WITH FULL FUEL TANKS. THREE HOURS LATER THE ENGINE LOSS POWER. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND THE INTENDED DESTINATION IS ABOUT 344 NM. THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK LISTS UNDER THE PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS THE AIRPLANE'S RANGE IS 340 NAUTICAL MILES IN 3.3 HOURS, USING 75 PERCENT ENGINE POWER AT A 7000 FOOT PRESSURE ALTITUDE. FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS DICTATE PILOT'S BEFORE BEGINNING A FLIGHT BECOME FAMILIAR WITH FUEL REQUIREMENTS, AND HAVE ENOUGH FUEL TO FLY TO THE FIRST POINT OF INTENDED LANDING AND FLY AFTER THAT FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_LAX91LA286.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

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