Cessna 172B accident near Honesdale, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1994
On October 21, 1994 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Cessna 172B, registered N7491E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Honesdale, Pennsylvania (Cherry Ridge airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the fuel selector was in the improper position, which resulted in a total loss of engine power, due to fuel starvation, a forced landing, and subsequent impact with a stone wall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 1994 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Honesdale, Pennsylvania · Cherry Ridge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172B · all 172Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7491E · registry record · serial 17247991
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS ON APPROACH TO RUNWAY 35, AND WAS TURNING TO THE BASE LEG WHEN THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD, SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT, AND STRUCK A ROCK WALL. AT THE ACCIDENT SITE THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK, AND THE LEFT FUEL TANK HAD LESS THEN 1 GALLON OF FUEL. ACCORDING TO THE CHECKLIST USED BY THE STUDENT PILOT DURING THE PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION, HE WAS TO, 'CHECK THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE 'ON.' ACCORDING TO CESSNA'S 172B MANUAL, THE FUEL SELECTOR HAS FOUR POSITIONS WHICH ARE LABELED 'BOTH OFF,' 'LEFT TANK,' 'RIGHT TANK,' AND 'BOTH ON.' THE CESSNA MANUAL STATES, 'THE 'BOTH ON' POSITION PROVIDES FUEL FLOW FROM BOTH TANKS SIMULTANEOUSLY TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM SAFETY.' THE 'BOTH ON' POSITION IS WHERE THE FUEL SELECTOR SHOULD BE FOR TAKEOFF LANDING, AND NORMAL OPERATIONS. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES.
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: 50 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,053 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
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.