Cessna 172M accident near Manteo, North Carolina, August 8, 2000
On August 8, 2000 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N3529Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manteo, North Carolina. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure of preflight planning preparation, which resulted in the fuel exhaustion, and the subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2000 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Manteo, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N3529Q · no longer on the register · serial IZ61664
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot preformed a normal pre-flight inspection of the airplane. The pilot calculated that the airplane had 1.2 hours of fuel onboard. Approximately 25 minutes into the sightseeing flight, the pilot experienced a complete loss of engine power. The pilot selected a location for a forced landing, made an off-airport landing in a swampy area. Examination of the airplane revealed that there was no fuel in the right or left fuel tanks. The pilot reported no mechanical problems, and no mechanical problems were discovered with the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 638 hours in all; 59 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 466 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,032 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 20, 2000; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FFA Kill Devil Hill NC at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 81°F (27°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:20 pm from MQI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.