Cessna 172E accident near Brentwood, California, May 25, 1990
On May 25, 1990 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172E, registered N5714T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brentwood, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IMPROPERLY CALCULATED THE FUEL CONSUMPTION CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1990 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Brentwood, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172E · all 172Es on the register
- Registration
- N5714T · no longer on the register · serial 17251614
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENROUTE TO NAPA, CA, THE ACFT SUSTAINED A TOTAL ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE TOPPED THE FUEL TANKS 2 DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. HE FLEW THE AIRPLANE ON A 20 MINUTE FLT FM CORONA ARPT TO SNA ARPT. HE DEPARTED SNA AND FLEW TO HARRIS RANCH, ABT A 2.2 HR FLT, AND THEN ONTO NAPA. THE PLT HAD PLACED THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE BOTH POSIITON ON THE FLT TO NAPA. AFTER REACHING THE CRUISING ALT THE PILOT SELECTED THE RIGHT TANK. ABT 1.1 HRS LATER WHEN THE FLT WAS BETWEEN NAVY'S CROWS LANDING AND STOCKTON, CA THE RIGHT TANK'S FUEL WAS TOTALLY CONSUMED. THE PLT SWITCHED TANKS AND ELECTED TO LAND AT CONCORD. WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS APPROACHING BRENTWOOD, ABT 0.3 HOURS LATER THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED TOTAL FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE FLT TIMES NOTED ARE ESTIMATED BASED ON AN AVERAGE GROUND SPEED OF 97 KNOTS.
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: 146 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 146 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,567 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 26, 1990; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 308 Coalinga CA at 8:45 pm
- Destination: APA Napa CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.