Cessna R172K accident near Santa Clarita, California, May 27, 1991
On May 27, 1991 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna R172K, registered N736MR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Clarita, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY PERFORM PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND TO ENSURE THAT AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY EXISTED FOR THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1991 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Clarita, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172K · all R172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N736MR · no longer on the register · serial R1722638
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE PILOT LEFT VAN NUYS ON THE AFTERNOON OF MAY 24, 1991, ENROUTE TO LAKE HAVASU FOR THE WEEKEND. AT THE TIME THE PILOT ACCEPTED THE AIRCRAFT, THE FUEL LEVEL WAS SOMETHING LESS THAN FULL. AT LAKE HAVASU, THE PILOT LOADED 11.8 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AT THE ACCIDENT SITE BY FAA PERSONNEL FROM THE VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA, FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE REVEALED THAT ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL WAS LEFT IN THE FUEL TANKS.
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: 150 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHU Lake Havasu AZ at 7:30 pm
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.