Cessna R172-E accident near Chiefland, Florida, August 14, 1999
On August 14, 1999 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Cessna R172-E, registered N667GA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chiefland, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Premature fuel exhaustion due to a cracked fuel line. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the electrical service drop line, which crossed the roadway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 1999 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Chiefland, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172-E · all R172-Es on the register
- Registration
- N667GA · no longer on the register · serial R172-0150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, approximately two hours and 50 minutes into the cross country flight at 1500 feet msl, the fuel gauges indicated low fuel in the right tank and half fuel in the left tank. Approximately ten minutes later, the airplane lost manifold pressure with the fuel gauges indicating empty for the right tank and half fuel for the left tank. The pilot elected to land on a rural road. The airplane nosed over and came to a rest inverted substantially damaging the airplane. Examination of the wreckage revealed little evidence of fuel and revealed that the fuel line from the firewall to the input side of the gascolator was cracked.
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: 53 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 25, 1999; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MGE Dobbins Afb GA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: X16 Tampa FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from GNV, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.