Cessna 172 accident near Elk River, Minnesota, November 17, 1992
On November 17, 1992 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N7463A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elk River, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE BEFORE THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 1992 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Elk River, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N7463A · registry record · serial 29563
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS RETURNING TO HIS HOME BASE AFTER HAVING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION PERFORMED ON HIS AIRPLANE WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES AND CRASHED NEXT TO A COUNTY HIGHWAY DURING THE ATTEMPTED FORCED LANDING. INVESTIGATORS FOUND APPROXIMATELY ONE TEASPOON OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK, NO FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK, APPROXIMATELY TWO OUNCES OF FUEL IN THE FIREWALL STRAINER, AND APPROXIMATELY ONE OUNCE IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL. BEFORE DEPARTING THE AIRPORT THE PILOT REMARKED THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL AND NEEDED TO GET SOME. A WORKER WENT TO GET THE FUEL TRUCK BUT THE PILOT TAXIED OUT FOR TAKEOFF AND DEPARTED THE AIRPORT AS HE RETURNED WITH THE TRUCK.
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: 262 hours in all; 234 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,846 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 17, 1992; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8Y6 Clear Lake MN at 6:00 pm
- Destination: ANE Anoka MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,700 ft; not recorded at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from STC, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.