Cessna 172 accident near Port Norris, New Jersey, August 11, 2023
On August 11, 2023 at about 6:10 pm local time, a 1980 Cessna 172, registered N5453K, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Port Norris, New Jersey (Millville Municipal 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 improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2023 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Port Norris, New Jersey · Millville Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 P, built 1980 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5453K · registry record · serial 17274119
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he departed on the flight with a total of 18 gallons of fuel on board. About one hour into the flight, while over water, the engine lost power. He established best glide configuration and prepared to ditch the airplane. His personal flotation vest became entangled in the seat belt and headset wire and he did not feel that he had sufficient time to refer to the emergency procedures checklist. After attempting restart the engine and declaring an emergency, the engine regained power. After setting up to land at a nearby airport, the engine lost power again, so he performed a forced landing in a farm field. After touchdown, the nose landing gear dug into the soil and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The airframe was substantially damaged. The pilot noted that the fuel selector handle was in the “left tank” position at the time of the accident. An examination of the fuel system revealed there were 1.5 gallons of fuel in the left wing tank, which remained intact, and 10 gallons in the right tank. The standard unusable fuel quantity for each of the airplane’s fuel tanks was 1.5 gallons. Based on the available information, the circumstances of the accident are consistent with a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Fuel starvation during enroute defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 727 hours in all; 702 in this make and model; 128 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 680 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 31, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 29, 2023; 130 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 6,609 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 31E West Creek NJ at 5:00 pm
- Destination: WWD Wildwood NJ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from KMIV, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMIV 111754Z AUTO 26009KT 10SM FEW037 29/20 A2984 RMK AO2 SLP104 T02890200 10289 20222 55000
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 26, 2024. 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 | NTSB Mor Pilot Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Cessna 172P POH Excerpts - Fuel System | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 pages | 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.