Cessna 172K accident near Marana, Arizona, June 23, 2023
On June 23, 2023 at about 11:04 am local time, a 1969 Cessna 172K, registered N84385, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Marana, Arizona. It was a personal 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
A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2023 · about 11:04 am local time
- Place
- Marana, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K, built 1969 · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N84385 · no longer on the register · serial 17258453
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on the cross-country flight with an estimated 38 gallons of fuel onboard. While enroute, the pilot deviated from the direct route to his destination, which increased his enroute time and distance. Flight track data revealed that the airplane arrived near the planned fuel stop, but the pilot stated that he diverted to another airport when he could not activate the runway lights at his intended fuel stop. After travelling for about 3 hours, 46 minutes, a total of about 467 miles, and about 5 miles short of the airport intended to be his second fuel stop, the engine lost total power about the time that the pilot stated that the fuel quantity gauges had “dropped all the way to basically nothing.” The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation but suspected that the airplane may have developed a fuel leak. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of a fuel leak. Based on the available information, it is likely that the loss of power was the result of fuel exhaustion. The Owner’s Manual Cruise and Range Performance Chart revealed that with 38 gallons of fuel, the accident flight’s distance and time enroute were within the chart limits; however, the accident flight consisted mostly of low altitude maneuvering flight that were not addressed by the Owner’s Manual. Field sobriety testing of the pilot was conducted at the scene of the accident, with no determination of impairment being made by law enforcement at that time. Toxicological testing of the pilot’s blood indicated that the pilot likely had used a cannabis product, cocaine, amphetamine, and MDMA. Although his use of these controlled substances conveyed significant risk of impairment, available evidence was insufficient to determine the precise timing of his substance use, specific impairing effects during the accident flight, or whether such effects contributed to the accident.
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
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 165 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 50 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 20, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,620 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 5,623 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IYK Inyokern CA at 6:50 am
- Destination: RYN Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on July 8, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Interviews | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Fuel Receipts | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | ADS-B Data | map file | Download |
| 5 | ADS-B Excel Data | spreadsheet | Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Airframe and Engine Examination Report | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Medical Factual Memorandum for Record | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N84385 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.