Cessna 172 accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, August 31, 1989
On August 31, 1989, a Cessna 172, registered N6270E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bullhead City, Arizona. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY PERFORM INFLIGHT FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS TO ENSURE THE ADEQUACY OF THE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE FLIGHT'S COMPLETION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF THE STRONGER THAN ANTICIPATED HEADWIND COMPONENT TO THE FUEL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1989
- Place
- Bullhead City, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6270E · registry record · serial 46370
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPORT UNICOM OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE HE WAS IN RADIO CONTACT WITH THE PILOT. THE OPERATOR STATED THAT THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS OUT OF FUEL AND EXECUTING AN EMERGENCY LANDING ABOUT 10 MILES NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE DEPARTED BTF WITH 38 GALLONS OF USABLE FUEL ON BOARD FOR THE 350 NM TRIP, WHICH HE REPORTEDLY HAD MADE MANY TIMES BEFORE. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE TYPICAL ENROUTE TIME FOR THE TRIP WAS 3.5 TO 4.0 HOURS WITH A FUEL CONSUMPTION OF 24 TO 28 GALLONS. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT CHANGED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT TANK AND RAN IT DRY, A PROCEDURE HE TYPICALLY USED FOR THIS TRIP. THE PILOT NOTED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED HEADWINDS ENROUTE AND THE LEFT TANK WENT DRY EARLIER THAN NORMAL, HOWEVER, 'THE EARLY SWITCH DID NOT CAUSE ANY CONCERN.' AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE ESTIMATED ELAPSED TIME ENROUTE WAS FOUR HOURS AND FORTY MINUTES.
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: 360 hours in all; 213 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 325 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTF Bountiful UT at 8:00 pm
- Destination: P06 Bullhead City AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.