Cessna 172H accident near East Vincent, Pennsylvania, June 11, 2003
On June 11, 2003 at about 1:40 am local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N3027U, was substantially damaged in an accident near East Vincent, Pennsylvania (New Castle County 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 inadequate in-flight planning/preparation which resulted in fuel exhaustion during cruise flight. The pilot's inadequate preflight preparation in which he failed to refuel the airplane is a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2003 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- East Vincent, Pennsylvania · New Castle County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N3027U · registry record · serial 17255124
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he initially departed with full fuel tanks, flew about 1 hour, 30 minutes, and then experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a field, and the airplane came to rest inverted. A witness stated that before the initial departure, the pilot had inquired about purchasing fuel. After some delay, an airport employee offered to fuel the airplane, but the pilot subsequently declined the offer. The witnesses added that according to the aircraft rental log, the pilot departed with the fuel tanks about half full, and flew approximately 2 hours, 10 minutes. Examination of the wreckage revealed that no fuel was present in the fuel tanks, fuel strainer, carburetor, or carburetor bowl.
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
- Flight time: 296 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ILG Wilmington DE at 1:30 am
- Destination: N70 Perkasie PA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 am from PTW, 5 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.
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.