This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel the scene of this accident.
Investigator In Charge (IIC): Gretz, Robert
Additional Participating Entities:
- Michael Torrent; FAA/FSDO; Miramar, FL
- J Ferrell; Continental Motors; Mobile, AL
- Ernest Hall; Textron Aviation; Wichita, KS
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N5405T
https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200137/pdf
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- Location: Florida City, FL
- Accident Number: ERA25LA200
- Date & Time: May 8, 2025, 19:30 Local
- Registration: N5405T
- Aircraft: Cessna 172
- Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None
- Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On May 8, 2025, about 1930 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172E, N5405T, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Florida City, Florida. The commercial pilot was not injured and the private pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The purpose of the flight was for the pilots to build flight experience, with the commercial pilot practicing simulated instrument meteorological conditions in the left seat, while the private pilot acted as a safety pilot in the right seat. The flight departed North Perry Airport (HWO), Hollywood, Florida at 1733, with 38 gallons of fuel. It proceeded out and back over the Florida Keys, with the intended destination of Naples Municipal Airport (APF), Naples, Florida. Near the destination, as the commercial pilot was making a left turn, the engine noise became silent, and she noticed the rpm was indicating below 1,000. The commercial pilot applied carburetor heat, with no success. She then transferred control to the private pilot so that she could use the engine start checklist and attempt to get the engine restarted. After two unsuccessful restart attempts, the private pilot performed a forced landing in a swamp and the airplane nosed over, inverted.
The private pilot added that there was no jolt or vibration before the engine noise went silent. Both pilots reported that the fuel selector handle was positioned to “BOTH” for the entire flight, and the private pilot moved it to “OFF” after the accident when he was securing the airplane, which also included turning off the master switch and ignition key.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that it had sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The inspector also noted the right fuel tank contained several gallons of fuel, but the left fuel tank contained only residual fuel. He further stated that the 1964 Cessna model 172E fuel selector placarding was different from other model 172s and not as intuitive (Figure 1).
When he asked the commercial pilot what clock position the selector handle needed to be in to be selected for both fuel tanks, she stated 11 o’clock; however, BOTH was 12 o’clock and 11 o’clock was between BOTH and LEFT fuel tank selections. Additionally, the private pilot moved the fuel selector handle to the 4:30 o’clock position (between OFF and RIGHT fuel tank) to turn the fuel off; however, OFF was at the 6 o’clock position. The commercial pilot subsequently reported that more awareness of the specific aircraft model differences (Cessna 172E verses Cessna 172S) could have prevented the accident.
The wreckage was transported to a recovery facility 3 days after the accident. The FAA inspector witnessed a successful test run of the engine at that facility. Once fuel was introduced to the engine, it was started on the airframe and ran continuously.