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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

August 15, 1998 · Cessna 152 · N89648

Beecher, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 15, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Beecher, IL
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N89648
Operator
Skyline Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI98LA321

The pilot then reported that he had landed at Greater Kankakee Airport to obtain fuel but the fuel services at the airport were closed, so the pilot departed at approximately 2105 to complete his return to Lansing Municipal Airport when the engine quit and the pilot then executed a forced landing into a field. Examination of the fuel tanks revealed no fuel to be present in either tank.

NTSB Probable Cause

Fuel exhaustion due to fuel mismanagement by the pilot-in-command. The rough terrain was a contributing factor.

Full Narrative

On August 14, 1998, at 2130 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N89648, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing into an agricultural field near Beecher, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The flight departed the Greater Kankakee Airport near Kankakee, Illinois, at 2105, and was returning to Lansing Municipal Airport near Lansing, Illinois. In an interview, the pilot stated that he had departed Lansing Municipal Airport, at approximately 1830, en route to Coles County Memorial Airport near Matoon, Illinois. During that leg of the flight, the pilot reported that the aircraft radios were intermittent and eventually "went out" between Kankakee, Illinois and Champaign, Illinois. To avoid transiting Class C airspace, the pilot stated that he diverted the University of Illinois-Willard Airport's airspace near Champaign, Illinois and arrived at Coles County Airport at approximately 1945. No fuel was obtained and the pilot departed at 2020 or 2030, according to the pilot's statement, to return to Lansing Municipal Airport. During the return, the pilot stated that he diverted the University of Illinois-Willard Airport's Class C airspace toward the east. The pilot then reported that he had landed at Greater Kankakee Airport to obtain fuel but the fuel services at the airport were closed. The pilot then departed at approximately 2105 to complete his return to Lansing Municipal Airport when the engine quit at which point the pilot then executed a forced landing into a field. Examination of the fuel tanks by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed no fuel to be present in either tank. The pilot had logged a total of 150 hours, 6 hours of which were in the previous 90 days. Examination of the pilot's logbook revealed that the pilot received a biennial flight review (BFR), in a Cessna 172, on June 17, 1998. The BFR was a local flight lasting 0.9 hours of flight time with one landing logged. Federal Aviation Regulation 61.56 Flight Review states, "... a flight review consists of a minimum of 1 hour of flight training and 1 hour of ground training. "BFR-stalls, steep turns, emergencies, turns, rudder usage", along with the commercial flight instructor's signature, was entered under the remarks section of the BFR entry. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) did not receive NTSB form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report from the pilot.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:30 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN89648
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSkyline Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · 0235-42C · Reciprocating · 110
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 27 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind200° @ 3 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 64 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time04:10
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data