Cessna 172B accident near Killen, Alabama, January 7, 1990
On January 7, 1990 at about 8:35 pm local time, a Cessna 172B, registered N7401X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Killen, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DURING CRUISE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 7, 1990 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Killen, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172B · all 172Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7401X · no longer on the register · serial 172-47901
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN FROM JOLIET, IL TO PULASKI, TN. AFTER LANDING THE PIC WAS TOLD FUEL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. SHE DEPARTED TO FLY TO MUSCLE SHOALS, AL, 37 MI SW OF PULASKI ABOUT 8 MI FROM MUSCLE SHOALS THE ENGINE QUIT. UPON DEPARTURE FROM JOLIET THE FUEL WAS FULL & ENDURANCE WAS EXPECTED TO BE 4+30 HOURS. THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WA REPORTED AS 1435. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE & FOUND NO FUEL IN THE GASCOLATOR OF THE INVERTED AIRPLANE. HE REPORTED THAT THE PIC STATED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE THAT THE FUEL HAD BEEN EXHAUSTED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 475 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 19, 1989; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GZS Pulaski TN at 8:30 pm
- Destination: MSL Muscle Shoals AL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:46 pm from MSL, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.