Cessna 172K accident near Fredericksburg, Virginia, September 19, 2024
On September 19, 2024 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1969 Cessna 172K, registered N7058G, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent 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
- September 19, 2024 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fredericksburg, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K, built 1969 · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N7058G · registry record · serial 17258758
- 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 the airplane had been stored in a hangar for two years awaiting an engine rebuild. Following the rebuild and an annual inspection, the pilot planned to ferry the airplane to his farm. After a preflight inspection, the pilot had trouble starting the engine due to a low battery, requiring a jump start. After successfully starting the engine, and shortly after departure, the engine lost total power about five miles from the farm, requiring a forced landing. The airplane collided with trees during the ensuing off-airport landing. A postaccident examination of the airplane’s wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the engine and that the airplane’s fuel tanks were absent of fuel. In a subsequent statement, the pilot confirmed that the accident was the result of fuel exhaustion.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,001 hours in all; 1,963 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,261 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 18, 2024; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 4,145 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CJR Culpeper VA at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KXSA, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KXSA 192035Z AUTO 28003KT 10SM CLR 26/19 A2988 RMK AO2 T02610194=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photog rap h 1 – Vie w of airp lane in woode d are a showing d amag e d left wing . (Courte sy of FAA)
Photog rap h 2 – Vie w of crushe d e ng ine cowling and fuselag e (Courte sy of FAA)
Photog rap h 3 – Vie w of buckled left wing root and upp e r fuse lage d amag e . (Courte sy of FAA)The 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
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 2, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot Email Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector's Wreckage Examination Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 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.