On September 11, 1998, a Cessna 175 (registration N7463M) was involved in an aviation accident near Emmett, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Fuel starvation. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A single-engine aircraft lost engine power at 200 feet during initial climb due to fuel starvation, struck a fence during forced landing, and nosed over. The pilot attributed the loss to low fuel and recommended not flying with tanks below one-quarter full.
Accident Details
The aircraft experienced a loss of engine power during the initial climb after takeoff at approximately 200 feet above ground level. The pilot performed a forced landing, during which the airplane struck a barbed wire fence and nosed over.
Pilot Report
The pilot indicated on the NTSB accident report that the power loss was due to fuel starvation. As a recommendation to prevent similar accidents, the pilot stated, 'Don't fly when tanks are under one quarter full.'
Post-Accident Information
The pilot reported that the engine was successfully test-run after the accident, following the installation of a new propeller. According to the aircraft owner's manual, the total fuel capacity is 52 gallons, with 43 gallons being usable.