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Fuel Exhaustion Incident on Approach to Fort Wayne Municipal Airport (N4696G)

Fort Wayne, IN, US

On February 1, 1997, a Cessna 172N (registration N4696G) was involved in an aviation accident near Fort Wayne, IN. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's inadequate fuel management and fuel system exhaustion. A factor involved was the inadequate in-flight planning/decision. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported losing engine power on final approach due to fuel exhaustion. Subsequently, 1.5 gallons of clean blue fuel were drained from the filter. The POH lists 3 gallons as unusable.

Flight Origin and Destination

The flight began its journey from Hendersonville, North Carolina. The local time of departure was 1730 Eastern Standard Time. The pilot's planned destination was Elkhart, Indiana.

Power Loss During Approach

During the descent and approach phase, the aircraft was on final approach to runway 23 at Fort Wayne Municipal Airport. At that point, the pilot noted a loss of engine power. After assessing the situation, the pilot realized that the aircraft had exhausted its fuel supply.

Post-Incident Fuel Inspection

Following the event, a total of 1.5 gallons of fuel were drained from the fuel filter. The fuel was described as clean and blue in color. The aircraft's Pilot's Operating Handbook states that the total unusable fuel is 3 gallons.

Fuel exhaustion & starvation

Related events

Same aircraft family

All Cessna 172 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1 Feb 1997 Cessna 172N accident near Fort Wayne, IN?

A pilot reported losing engine power on final approach due to fuel exhaustion. Subsequently, 1.5 gallons of clean blue fuel were drained from the filter. The POH lists 3 gallons as unusable.

Were there any fatalities in the 1 Feb 1997 Cessna 172N accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1 Feb 1997 involved a Cessna 172N, registration N4696G, at Fort Wayne, IN.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

the pilot's inadequate fuel management and fuel system exhaustion. A factor involved was the inadequate in-flight planning/decision.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X07273. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.