BRADLEY, CA, USA
N5563R
CESSNA 172F
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS DIVERTING DUE TO WEATHER TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT WHEN HE RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM A PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY NIGHT FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT REFUEL BECAUSE HE CALCULATED THAT HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE RETURN FLIGHT. UPON REACHING HIS FINAL DESTINATION HE FOUND THE AIRPORT WAS FOGGED IN. HE SPENT ABOUT 1/2 HOUR IN THE GENERAL AREA ANALYZING THE SITUATION AND CHECKING ANOTHER PRIVATE AIRSTRIP BEFORE DIVERTING TO ANOTHER AIRPORT KNOWN TO BE VFR. HOWEVER, BEFORE REACHING THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND DURING THE FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT, PLOWED FIELD, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.
On August 15, 1995, about 2400 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172F, N5563R, was substantially damaged during an emergency landing near Bradley, California. Neither the pilot nor his passenger were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the departure from Porterville, California. However, instrument meteorological conditions existed at the destination, King City, California. No flight plan was filed. The pilot stated that he was diverting due to weather to an alternate airport when he ran out of fuel. The pilot was returning from a personal cross-country night flight. He stated that he did not refuel because he calculated that he had enough fuel for the return flight. Upon reaching his destination he found the airport was fogged in. He spent about 1/2 hour in the general area analyzing the situation and checking another private airstrip before diverting to another airport known to be vfr.
fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel prior to takeoff and his delayed decision to proceed to his alternate airport. The night light conditions and the lack of a suitable emergency landing area were factors.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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