Cessna 172P accident near Buford, Georgia, October 8, 1992
On October 8, 1992 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N62527, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buford, Georgia. 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1992 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Buford, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N62527 · registry record · serial 17275293
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT UNDER INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE PILOT STATED THE HE BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT HIS FUEL STATUS AS A RESULT OF ENCOUNTERING HEAD WINDS IN EXCESS OF THOSE USED FOR PLANNING THE FLIGHT. DURING HIS ATTEMPTS TO LAND AT ALTERNATE AIRPORTS TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT, THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. DURING THE FORCED LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FENCE AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 461 hours in all; 383 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 318 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,123 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 1993; 115 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CVG Covington KY at 3:20 pm
- Destination: ATH Athens GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded at 600 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:47 pm from PDK, 20 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.