Cessna 172C accident near Palm Beach, Florida, September 28, 1991
On September 28, 1991 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172C, registered N1669Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palm Beach, Florida. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO REFUEL BEFORE DEPARTURE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED, AND OPERATION WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 1991 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Palm Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172C · all 172Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1669Y · no longer on the register · serial 17249369
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT BECAME DISORIENTED DURING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLT BUT DURING COURSE CORRECTION, THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING THE FORCED LANDING. THE PLT STATED THAT THE LT FUEL GAUGE WAS MALFUNCTIONING BEFORE THE FLT. THE ACFT WAS OPERATED 3.8 HRS SINCE FUELING.
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: student
- Flight time: 70 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,929 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 20, 1991; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300D2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kenneth Poteet Flying Serv INC
The flight
- Departed from: VNC Venice FL at 3:40 pm
- Destination: SUA Stuart FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.