Cessna 172P accident near Lancaster, Texas, July 4, 1993
On July 4, 1993 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N54003, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lancaster, Texas. 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
FUEL EXHAUSTION ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO THE INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE FLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1993 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N54003 · registry record · serial 17274838
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PILOT ADDED FIVE GALLONS OF FUEL TO EACH WING TANK AFTER A TWO HOUR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. ON THE RETURN FLIGHT, WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3,500 FEET, THE ENGINE LOST POWER 1.5 HOURS INTO THE FLIGHT. A FORCED LANDING WAS EXECUTED TO A FRESHLY PLOWED FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE WHEEL DUG INTO THE SOFT GROUND, COLLAPSING THE NOSE WHEEL, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY, WHILE THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY A PINT OF FUEL
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: 218 hours in all; 8 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,630 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 17, 1993; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-O2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Stramel Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: CXO Conroe TX at 5:00 am
- Destination: ADS Dallas TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 20 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from DAL, 14 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.