Cessna 172G accident near Corona, California, September 11, 1994
On September 11, 1994 at about 8:02 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N4328L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corona, California (Corona Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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 POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION AND FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE ROUGH TERRAIN WERE FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 1994 · about 8:02 pm local time
- Place
- Corona, California · Corona Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4328L · no longer on the register · serial 17254397
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN A POST ACCIDENT TELEPHONE INTERVIEW THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE 'RAN OUT OF FUEL.' BEFORE DEPARTURE THE PILOT SAID HE REQUESTED THE FIXED BASE OPERATOR TO PUT 10 GALLONS OF GAS IN THE AIRPLANE FUEL TANKS. AFTER THE FUELING, THE RIGHT FUEL GAUGE INDICATED FULL AND THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE INDICATED 3/4 FULL. HE DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL TANK LEVEL BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. HE ALSO SAID THAT HE OBSERVED SOME MINOR FUEL STAINS ON THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK SUMP DRAIN.
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: 71 hours in all; 23 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pdz Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: P06 Bullhead City AZ at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.