LAX94LA359

The pilot's poor preflight planning/preparation and fuel consumption calculations. Fuel exhaustion and the rough terrain were factors in this accident.

In a post accident telephone interview the pilot reported that the airplane 'ran out of fuel.' before departure the pilot said he requested the fixed base operator to put 10 gallons of gas in the airplane fuel tanks. After the fueling, the right fuel gauge indicated full and the left fuel gauge indicated 3/4 full. He did not visually check the fuel tank level before departing on the accident flight. He also said that he observed some minor fuel stains on the left wing fuel tank sump drain.

On September 11, 1994, at 1302 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172G, N4328L, collided with the terrain and nosed over about 2 miles east of Corona Airport, Corona, California, during an emergency landing. The emergency landing resulted from a total loss of engine power while on final approach to runway 25. The pilot was completing a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, operated by PDZ Aviation, Corona Airport, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries; his passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed Bullhead City-Laughlin Airport, Bullhead City, Arizona, at 1100 hours. The pilot told National Transportation Safety Board investigators in a telephone interview conducted on September 12, 1994, that the airplane "ran out of fuel." He said he departed Corona Airport for Bullhead City-Laughlin Airport on September 10, 1994. Before departing Bullhead City-Laughlin Airport, he requested the fixed base operator to put 10 gallons of gas in the airplane fuel tanks. After the fueling, the right fuel gauge indicated full and the left fuel gauge indicated 3/4 full. He did not visually check the fuel tanks before departing on the accident flight. He also said that he observed some minor fuel stains on the left wing fuel tank sump drain. -