Cessna 172 accident near Niles, Michigan, July 29, 1995
On July 29, 1995 at about 4:25 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N7295A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Niles, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to ensure an adequate supply of fuel was aboard the aircraft during preflight planning and his failure to lean the engine mixture during cruise flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1995 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Niles, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N7295A · no longer on the register · serial 29395
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AFTER APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS OF FLIGHT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL SUPPLY WAS EXHAUSTED. THE PILOT TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT HE CHECKED THE AIRCRAFT FUEL QUANTITY BEFORE TAKEOFF BY INSERTING HIS FINGER INTO EACH TANK FILLER NECK. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT HE HAD CRUISED THE ENTIRE FLIGHT AT 2500 TO 3500 FEET ALTITUDE WITH THE ENGINE MIXTURE CONTROL IN THE FULL RICH POSITION.
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: 167 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 110 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,420 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1995; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLI Clintonville WI at 1:25 pm
- Destination: SBN South Bend IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 23,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:30 pm from SBN, 8 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.