Cessna 172E accident near Manassas, Virginia, May 16, 1993
On May 16, 1993 at about 7:12 pm local time, a Cessna 172E, registered N5416T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manassas, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1993 · about 7:12 pm local time
- Place
- Manassas, Virginia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172E · all 172Es on the register
- Registration
- N5416T · no longer on the register · serial 17251316
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS EN ROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION AT ABOUT 3000 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE STATED THAT HE RESTARTED THE ENGINE ONCE, BUT IT LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTERWARD. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN EARLIER THAT DAY BY ANOTHER PILOT. THE PILOT (OF THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT) ESTIMATED HE HAD 18 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD AND HIS FLYING TIME WOULD BE 1 HOUR TEN MINUTES. AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER, HE ESTABLISHED THE BEST RATE OF GLIDE AND TRIED TO REACH THE NEAREST AIRPORT. HOWEVER, HIS ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT 1.5 MI EAST OF THE AIRPORT AND FELL TO THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED 1 QUART OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK; THE RIGHT TANK AND CARBURETOR WERE EMPTY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 295 hours in all; 151 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 234 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,173 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 1992; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Continental Aviation Club INC.
The flight
- Departed from: TGI Tangier Island VA at 10:45 pm
- Destination: JYO Leesburg VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from HEF, 1 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.