Cessna 320 accident near Gunnison, Colorado, August 23, 1995
On August 23, 1995 at about 6:17 pm local time, a Cessna 320, registered N5720X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gunnison, Colorado. 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 INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. A FACTOR WAS HIS DISORIENTATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1995 · about 6:17 pm local time
- Place
- Gunnison, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320 · all 320s on the register
- Registration
- N5720X · no longer on the register · serial 320-0020
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS SERVICED TO CAPACITY (130 GALLONS) ON THE EVENING BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, AND THE PILOT FLEW APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES DOING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. HE DEPARTED BANNING, CALIFORNIA, AT 0600 PDT, EN ROUTE TO BUENA VISTA, COLORADO. UNFAVORABLE WEATHER FORCED THE PILOT TO APPROACH ALAMOSA, COLORADO, FROM THE SOUTHWEST, AND HE TURNED UP THE WRONG VALLEY. INSTEAD OF HEADING TOWARDS BUENA VISTA, HE WAS HEADING TOWARDS GUNNISON, COLORADO. THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO GUNNISON. DURING THE DESCENT, BOTH ENGINES LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON U.S. 50, BUT HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED THE FIRST CALL THAT AN AIRPLANE WAS DOWN AT 1217 MDT. THEY REPORTED FINDING LITTLE EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS. FLIGHT DURATION WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS, 17 MINUTES. THE PILOT SAID THE FUEL FLOW GAUGES INDICATED 16 GALLONS PER HOUR IN CRUISE FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY, FUEL CONSUMPTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 25 GALLONS PER HOUR. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HIS FUEL GUAGES SHOWED 15 GALLONS IN EACH MAIN TANK WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-470-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BNG Banning CA at 1:00 pm
- Destination: GUC CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from GUC, 1 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.