Cessna 172D accident near Bow, Washington, February 9, 2009
On February 9, 2009 at about 2:25 am local time, a Cessna 172D, registered N2404Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Bow, Washington. It was a personal 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
A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and failure to verify the fuel quantity on board.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 2009 · about 2:25 am local time
- Place
- Bow, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172D · all 172Ds on the register
- Registration
- N2404Y · registry record · serial 17249704
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the single-engine airplane reported that he was on the final leg (approximately 10 minutes after takeoff) of a multi-segment cross-country flight when the engine stopped producing power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and landed in a field near the destination airport. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a ditch. The pilot stated that prior to the final leg of the cross-country flight the airplane fuel quantity indicators read "just under" 1/2 and 1/8 full. He added that he did not visually inspect the fuel quantity in the fuel tanks during the preflight inspection. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the firewall. The fuel system, including the fuel tanks, was intact and no leaks were observed. An airframe and powerplant mechanic who recovered the wreckage reported that there was no fuel in the left tank and approximately 3/4 of a gallon of fuel in the right fuel tank. No preaccident mechanical deficiencies with the airframe or engine were noted.
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
What happened, in order
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Inadequate inspection
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: airship
- Flight time: 2,585 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 22, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,582 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Captain Kurt'S Tug & Barge INC DBA
The flight
- Departed from: KBLI Bellingham WA at 1:15 am
- Destination: KBVS Burlington WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 005° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.