Accident Overview
On September 19, 2024, at about 1530 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172K, registration N7058G, was substantially damaged during an accident near Fredericksburg, Virginia. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that the airplane had been stored in a hangar for two years awaiting an engine rebuild. After the rebuild and an annual inspection, he planned to fly the airplane back to his farm. Following a preflight inspection, the pilot attempted to start the engine but found the battery too low. After a jump start, he departed, circled the airport, and headed toward the farm.
When the flight was about five miles from the farm, the engine lost total power, and the pilot performed a forced landing. After clearing trees along the approach to a pasture, he slipped the airplane to lose altitude and began to flare about one-third of the way into the pasture. The pilot then noticed a gravel drive with utility lines and trees at the end of the pasture. Stating that he still had sufficient airspeed, he pulled back on the control yoke, the airplane became airborne, and he cleared the utility line and trees. The airplane then touched down hard. The pilot ground-looped the airplane to avoid the river at the end of the pasture, and the airplane contacted the trees that he had just cleared before coming to rest.
Postaccident Examination
During the postaccident examination, about five ounces of fuel were drained from the fuel sump-gascolator and carburetor, with no contaminants or water present. Both left and right wing fuel tanks were empty. Examination of the engine confirmed compression on all four cylinders and continuity of the valvetrain. The cylinders and exhaust system components were examined with a lighted borescope with no anomalies noted. The left and right magnetos operated normally when tested. The spark plugs, ignition harness, and carburetor screen were examined with no anomalies. The oil filter and housing were inspected and found to be free of contaminants. No anomalies were found that would have precluded normal operation of the engine.
Pilot Acknowledgment
In a subsequent written statement, the pilot stated: “my aircraft experienced fuel exhaustion while returning to my farm. I thought I had enough fuel to make it, but I didn’t and ran out of gas.”