Cessna 172 accident near Hastings, Florida, May 3, 2025
On May 3, 2025 at about 3:29 pm local time, a 1985 Cessna 172, registered N127EP, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Hastings, Florida (Earle Airpark airport). 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 preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 2025 · about 3:29 pm local time
- Place
- Hastings, Florida · Earle Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 P, built 1985 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N127EP · registry record · serial 172-76481
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot planned to perform a 15-minute-long local flight in the airport traffic pattern. During his preflight inspection, he visually checked the fuel quantity in both the left and right tanks, observing there was fuel inside that appeared to be an adequate amount. He did not measure or otherwise quantify the amount of fuel but did see that the fuel quantity gauges in the cockpit indicated 10 gallons. Shortly after departure, during the climbing left turn to crosswind, the engine stopped producing power. He turned back toward the airport and attempted to land on the runway, but there was a tailwind, and the airplane was too fast and high above the ground to safely land so he attempted a forced landing in a mature cabbage field. The airplane’s nose landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the resulting impact resulted in substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage and right wing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that both of the intact fuel tanks were absent of fuel, and when the electrical system was turned on, the fuel quantity gauges in the cockpit indicated 1/8 and 1/4-full for the left and right tank respectively. Following the accident, the pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and stated that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. He further stated that the fuel in the tanks looked like it was deeper than it was due to an optical illusion.
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 exhaustion during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 858 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 795 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 18, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,771 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 9,328 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point -31°F (-35°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 am from 28J, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR K28J 031535Z AUTO 20008KT 160V220 10SM CLR 29/M35 A2999 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on November 6, 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Logbook Excepts | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Wreckage Examination Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N127EP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.