1 May 2019: Cessna 172 E

1 May 2019: Cessna 172 E — Unknown operator

No fatalities • Wasilla, AK, United States

Probable cause

The flight instructor's failure to verify the fuel level, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent forced landing and collision with a power line pole. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The flight instructor reported that during the preflight inspection, he asked the student how much fuel was on board the airplane, and the student replied, about three hours of fuel. During the flight, the instructor observed that the right fuel gauge needle displayed, "little movement." After a brief conversation with the student regarding fuel burn, the instructor decided to return to the airport.

The student pilot was the owner of the airplane, and he reported that when the instructor asked about the fuel gauge during the flight, the student replied that the fuel gauge "works intermittently."

The student pilot reported that, about 5 nautical miles from the airport, the airplane "ran out of fuel at 3,000ft MSL." The instructor landed the airplane on a road, and the right wing struck a powerline pole.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.

Contributing factors

cause Instructor/check pilot
cause Effect on operation
cause Inadequate inspection
cause Fluid level
factor Student/instructed pilot

Conditions

Weather: VMC, wind 070/03kt, vis 8sm

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