Cessna R172K accident near Mancos, Colorado, November 25, 1993
On November 25, 1993 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Cessna R172K, registered N8833T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mancos, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, DURING WHICH HE FAILED TO INSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN REFUELED TO CAPACITY. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 1993 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Mancos, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172K · all R172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N8833T · no longer on the register · serial R1723105
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. DURING THE FORCED LANDING TO THE ONLY AVAILABLE BUT UNSUITABLE TERRAIN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S REPORT, HIS PRE-FLIGHT EXAMINATION VERIFIED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS FUELED TO CAPACITY PRIOR TO HIS CHECKOUT AND POSITIONING FLIGHT FROM PHOENIX TO SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA. HE DEPARTED SCOTTSDALE THE NEXT MORNING AT 0520 PST. THE ENGINE LOST POWER APPROXIMATELY 0950 MST. THE PILOT SAID HE SHOULD HAVE HAD 5.7 GALLONS REMAINING AFTER LANDING AT THE DESTINATION (TELLURIDE AIRPORT). HOWEVER, COMPANY OFFICIALS SAID THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT FUELED TO CAPACITY AND THAT 3.0 GALLONS PER TANK (6.0 GALLONS TOTAL) WERE ROUTINELY WITHHELD TO PREVENT FUEL EXPANSION AND VENTING. THE PILOT SAID THAT 'LOOKING AT THE FUEL GAUGES IS PART OF MY SCAN, WHICH I RUN THROUGH EVERY FEW SECONS DURING A FLIGHT.' AN FAA INSPECTOR FOUND NO FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK, VERY LITTLE FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK, AND RESIDUAL FUEL IN THE SUMPS AND GASCOLATOR.
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: 133 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 87 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,666 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 20, 1993; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360-KB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 12:15 pm
- Destination: TEX Telluride CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from CEZ, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.