UPPER MARLBORO, MD, USA
N2780L
CESSNA 172H
SINCE THE FUEL GAGES IN THE ACFT WERE KNOWN NOT TO BE ACCURATE, THE PLT MEASURED THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN EACH TANK WITH A DIPSTICK BEFORE DEPARTING. HE DETERMINED THAT HE HAD 18 GALLONS FOR THE 2 HOURS OF FLYING HE PLANNED TO DO AND BASED ON A FUEL CONSUMPTION RATE OF 5 GPH HE WOULD HAVE 8 GALLONS TO SPARE. THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION AND NOSED OVER IN A FIELD DURING THE ENSUING LANDING. USING A CESSNA AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE CHART THAT WAS IN THE ACFT, THE CONSUMPTION RATE FOR THE ENGINE RUNNING AT 75% POWER AT 2500 FEET MSL WAS 8.5 GPH. THE 8.5 GPH DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FUEL REQUIRED FOR ENG START, TAXI AND CLIMB.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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