Cessna 172M accident near Homestead, Florida, November 20, 1990
On November 20, 1990 at about 3:14 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N80509, was destroyed in an accident near Homestead, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO INSURE ADEQUATE FUEL WAS PRESENT IN THE AIRCRAFT FOR THE FLIGHT RESULTING IN LOSS OF ENGINE 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
- November 20, 1990 · about 3:14 pm local time
- Place
- Homestead, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N80509 · no longer on the register · serial 17266628
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT LAST FUELED ON 11-18-90 AT HOBBS TIME 1377.0. AFTER ACCIDENT HOBBS READ 1382.0. ONE GALLON OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN UNDAMAGED RIGHT FUEL TANK. LEFT FUEL TANK HAD RUPTURED HOWEVER NO EVIDENCE OF A LARGE FUEL SPILL WAS PRESENT. FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND ON BOTH. ACFT PROPELLER HAD NO SIGNIFICANT ROTATIONAL DAMAGE. CESSNA ACFT PERFORMANCE RECORDS INDICATE FIVE HOURS FLOWN IS AT MAXIMUM ENDURANCE FOR ACFT. PLT WAS ALSO FOUND TO NOT BE WEARING SEAT BELT AT IMPACT. PLT ALSO HAD RESTRICTION ON PLT LICENSE THAT DID NOT ALLOW OPERATIONS AT AIRPORTS WERE HE WAS REQUIRED TO SPEAK ENGLISH ON THE RADIO. THE DEPT. ARPT WAS UNCONTROLLED ON DEPARTURE HOWEVER FAA TOWER OPENED 10 MIN. AFTER DEPARTURE WHICH WOULD REQUIRE PLT USE OF ENGLISH ON RETURN TO ARPT. PLT ALSO HAD NOT HAD BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW SINCE 1987.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 308 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 58 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OPF Opa Locka FL at 11:50 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:49 pm from TMB, 18 miles away
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.