Cessna 172C accident near Darrington, Washington, April 25, 1993
On April 25, 1993 at about 4:23 am local time, a Cessna 172C, registered N1406Y, was destroyed in an accident near Darrington, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE REFUELING OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 1993 · about 4:23 am local time
- Place
- Darrington, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172C · all 172Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1406Y · no longer on the register · serial 17249106
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WAS TOPPED OFF WITH A MAXIMUM OF 41 GALLONS OF USABLE FUEL HAD BEEN FLOWN 0.8 HOURS BEFORE THE PILOT DEPARTED RENTON, WASHINGTON. THE ESTIMATED FLIGHT TIME TO HIS FIRST DESTINATION (COEUR D' ALENE, IDAHO) WAS APPROXIMATELY 2.2 HOURS (NO WIND). AFTER HIS ARRIVAL, THE PILOT TOPPED OFF THE RIGHT TANK WITH 13.8 GALLONS BUT ADDED NO FUEL TO THE LEFT TANK. THE AIRCRAFT THEN TOOK OFF AND LESS THAN 10 MINUTES LATER TAXIED BACK TO THE FBO. NO FUEL WAS ADDED AND THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED COEUR D' ALENE AT APPROXIMATELY 1755. RADAR DATA SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBING TO 13,900 FEET ALTITUDE AT ONE POINT BEFORE THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS OUT OF GAS AT 2122 (3.45 HOURS ELAPSED TIME FROM LAST TAKEOFF). THE TOTAL ESTIMATED FLIGHT TIME WAS 6.55 HOURS. THE OWNER REPORTED THAT THE AVERAGE FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS 8 GALLONS PER HOUR.
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
- Flight time: 88 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 53 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COE Coeur D'Alene ID
- Destination: RNT Renton WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 am from S88, 17 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.