Cessna 172D accident near Stanton, Tennessee, July 15, 1995
On July 15, 1995 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172D, registered N3744S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stanton, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT BECAME LOST/DISORIENTATED, AND HIGH VEGETATION IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1995 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Stanton, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172D · all 172Ds on the register
- Registration
- N3744S · no longer on the register · serial 17250944
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON THE RETURN FLIGHT, THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED AND DECIDED TO CHANGE HIS DESTINATION. CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF FUEL REMAINING, THE PILOT DECIDED TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER LANDING SITE, AS HE MANEUVERED FOR THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING TO A DIRT RACE TRACK, AND DURING THE ROLLOUT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THICK BRUSH AND NOSED OVER. NO AIRCRAFT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED BY THE PILOT. A REVIEW OF THE RENTAL DOCUMENTS REVEALED THAT THE PILOT HAD FLOWN 3.7 HOURS WITHOUT REFUELING. THE NORMAL FUEL ENDURANCE FOR THIS AIRCRAFT IS APPROXIMATELY 4 FLIGHT HOURS.
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: 75 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,003 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 14, 1995; 102 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Adventure Air INC.,
The flight
- Departed from: FYE Somerville TN at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from MEM, 45 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.