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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 11, 1993 · Cessna 152 · N76284

Santa Ynez, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 11, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Santa Ynez, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N76284
Operator
Reese Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX93LA213

THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED AN UNFORECASTED HEADWIND. HE SAID HE DID NOT PERFORM ANY GROUNDSPEED CHECKS TO DETERMINE THE PROGRESS OF THE FLIGHT AND AND THEREFORE DID NOT DIVERT TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT BEFORE THE FUEL STATE BECAME A CRITICAL ISSUE. WHEN FUEL EXHAUSTION WAS IMMINENT THE PILOT CONTACTED THE AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER AND WAS PROVIDED A RADAR VECTOR TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED FUEL EXHAUSTION BEFORE ARRIVING AT THE NEAREST AIRPORT.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S POOR PROCEDURES AND FAILURE TO FLY TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, ENCOUNTER WITH UNFAVORABLE WINDS, AND THE DARK NIGHT.

Full Narrative

On May 10, 1993, at about 2310 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N76284, collided with a fence, and subsequently nosed over during a forced landing near Santa Ynez, California. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to Reese Aviation, Livermore, California, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Livermore Municipal Airport at about 2010 hours. According to the FAA, the pilot reportedly told the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center sector controller that he was "critical fuel." The FAA inspector who examined the aircraft reportedly found no fuel in the fuel tanks. He stated that there was a noticeable lack of fuel smell near the accident site. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he had received a weather briefing before departing on the accident flight. While enroute the flight encountered stronger headwinds. The pilot also stated that he had not checked the airplane's groundspeed during the enroute phase of the flight.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time23:10 PDT
Nearest AirportSanta Ynez (2nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN76284
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorReese Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L2C · Reciprocating · 110
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 20 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data