Cessna 172N accident near Alhambra, California, June 3, 2002
On June 3, 2002, a Cessna 172N, registered N6629E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alhambra, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's miscalculated fuel consumption, failure to verify the fuel supply on board, and his failure to refuel the airplane prior to takeoff, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2002
- Place
- Alhambra, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6629E · no longer on the register · serial 17272047
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted a sign located on the Interstate's divider during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The pilot had initially reserved a Cessna 172 equipped with 50-gallon fuel tanks and initially planned the trip with that airplane in mind. His passenger called to ask if his friend could accompany them. The pilot stated that he would have to get back with him after checking the weight and balance. He reworked his weight and balance calculations and determined that they would be 66 pounds over gross with full fuel, golf clubs, and an additional person. The pilot went to the airport to check on the airplane and see how much fuel was on board. When he got to the airport he saw that the accident airplane, which had 40-gallon fuel tanks, had just returned from a flight. He talked to the pilot about how the airplane handled and what the fuel level was. The pilot that had just returned in the airplane stated that it was running fine and he had flown about 1 hour 50 minutes. The pilot recalculated the weight and balance and found that the accident airplane would be within limits with his two passengers and their baggage. He estimated his trip time would be 3 hours with a fuel burn of 6 gallons per hour. The pilot subtracted the 2 hours of flight time from the previous flight, in addition to his trip time of 3 hours, and calculated he would have 1.6 hours of reserve fuel on board at the completion of his trip. The pilot determined that this would be plenty of fuel to make the trip. Prior to takeoff the pilot conducted a preflight inspection, which included visually checking the fuel level. The aircraft arrived at the destination after an 1 hour 15 minute flight, and the pilot did not have the airplane refueled. The next day when they returned to the airport for the return flight the pilot did not visually inspect the fuel tanks and departed. One hour and 12 minutes later the engine lost power and the pilot landed on an interstate highway. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks were intact, but empty, with no other breeches or leakage in the fuel system lines found. Review of the Cessna 172N Pilot Operating Handbook revealed the fuel flow for 65 percent brake horsepower settings at the cruise altitudes would have been between 7.2 and 7.4 gallons per hour.
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: 118 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 69 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 18, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,165.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 2002; 46.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cableair Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: UDD Bermuda Dunes CA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
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.