Cessna 172N accident near Fort Ord, California, February 14, 1999
On February 14, 1999 at about 8:48 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N7374D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Ord, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's becoming lost and disoriented during multiple attempts at completing an ILS approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 1999 · about 8:48 am local time
- Place
- Fort Ord, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N7374D · registry record · serial 17272918
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot attempted three ILS approaches, but reported that he was having problems with the navigation equipment during each approach. At the end of the third approach he advised ARTCC that he was low on fuel, with only about 30 minutes remaining. The pilot relayed through another aircraft that he had visual contact with the airport and was below the clouds. He canceled IFR and reported that landing was assured. He saw an airport beacon ahead, flew toward it, and attempted to activate the pilot-controlled lighting. The lights did not illuminate and the pilot realized he was about midfield of the runway and too high for a safe landing. He initiated a go-around and the engine quit. The aircraft crashed about 7 miles north of the pilot's intended destination airport and about 3/4 miles north of an uncontrolled airport. The aircraft was examined following recovery. No fuel was found in the fuel tanks or lines, and no evidence of leakage was observed. Comparison of the Hobbs meter readings between departure and the accident revealed that the pilot had flown 4.4 hours during the accident flight. The pilot reported that he had not experienced any mechanical problems with the engine or aircraft prior to the accident. The navigation radios in the aircraft were tested with no discrepancies found. A functional test of the ground navigational aids was performed following the accident with no noted discrepancies. The pilot did not provide evidence of instrument currency.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 708 hours in all; 210 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 502 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,973 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 1999; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA at 4:30 am
- Destination: MRY Monterey CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:36 am from MRY, 7 miles away
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX99LA099.