Cessna 172D accident near Post, Texas, December 19, 2025
On December 19, 2025 at about 9:44 pm local time, a 1963 Cessna 172D, registered N2536U, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Post, Texas (Post-Garza County Municipal Ai airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to see the blockage in the fuel tank vent tube during the preflight inspection which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the deterioration of the right fuel cap vent to the point where it was inoperative.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 19, 2025 · about 9:44 pm local time
- Place
- Post, Texas · Post-Garza County Municipal Ai · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172D, built 1963 · all 172Ds on the register
- Registration
- N2536U · registry record · serial 17250136
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was delivering a recently purchased airplane for a friend and decided to land for fuel. While in the landing pattern the engine lost all power. The pilot immediately turned toward the runway, switched the fuel selector valve from both to the left tank position, then to the right tank, and back to both while he attempted to restart the engine, without success. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field. During the landing the airplane struck and came to rest in Mesquite trees about 100 yards north of the airport. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing outer leading edge, the left leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer, the firewall, and the fuselage lower skin. After the accident, the pilot checked the fuel level. When he removed the first fuel cap, he noticed the sound of air rushing into the fuel tank. Further examination by the FAA revealed dry, hard dirt consistent with a Mud Dauber nest blocking the fuel tank vent tube. They also found the right fuel cap vent was deteriorated and inoperative and the left fuel cap was not a vented cap. The FAA stated about 6 gallons total fuel remained in both right and left fuel tanks. The airplane did not have a current annual inspection.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel starvation during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Hoses and tubes › Not inspected
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 172 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 19, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,015 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 9, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 3,015 hours total
The flight
- Runway 17, 2,400 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 20 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from KSNK, 36 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSNK 192155Z AUTO 21020G24KT 10SM CLR 22/M06 A2990 RMK AO2 T02221065
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Picture 1 Airplane at Rest in Brush
Picture 2 Damage to Outer Right Wing
Picture 3 Collapsed Nose Landing Gear
Picture 4 Fuel Vent
Picture 5 Right Fuel Tank Vented Fuel CapThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 19, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.