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Atlas / NTSB / WPR23LA127

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event WPR23LA127

2023-03-11 Lewiston, Idaho, United States Airport · LWS None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N7010Q

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA 172L

Engine

LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

4 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19711221

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A95AAC

Registrant of record

MOSMAN MATTHEW J

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The flight instructor’s inadequate fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that, he planned to complete back-to-back flight lessons with two students. His students completed the preflight inspection and each tank measured about half full. The flight instructor verified that the fuel gauges indicated sufficient fuel for both lessons. During the second flight lesson with a student pilot at the controls, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and force-landed on a golf course. The airplane collided with trees during landing, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The flight instructor reported that the airplane ran out of fuel, and that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • Aircraft-Fluids/misc hardware-Fluids-Fuel-Fluid level
  • Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Instructor/check pilot
  • Personnel issues-Task performance-Planning/preparation-Fuel planning-Instructor/check pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_WPR23LA127.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.