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NTSB Report

August 14, 1999 · Cessna 152 · N49100

Buckeye, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 14, 1999
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Buckeye, AZ
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N49100
Operator
Glendale Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX99LA269

While inbound to his destination, the pilot reported that the engine began to miss. It resumed running a couple of times but finally stopped altogether. The pilot made a forced landing on a dirt road, damaging the aircraft. The aircraft was last serviced with 20.8 gallons of aviation fuel on the previous day. The pilot computed the fuel requirement for the flight by using the fuel consumption chart in the pilot operator's handbook. After a flight of 0.2 hours on the day before, the pilot estimated that he had 3 hours 55 minutes of fuel remaining (without reserve) for his cross-country flight. At the time the engine quit, the Hobbs meter showed that a total of 3 hours 36 minutes had elapsed. The average fuel consumption for the fuel load was 6.8 gallons per hour. The fuel capacity of the aircraft is 26 gallons with 1.5 gallons unusable. When asked about his planning, he acknowledged that his planning estimate of 6 gallons per hour had not considered the additional fuel requirements for his initial takeoff and climb, nor the seven other landings and takeoffs that he subsequently made since his last refueling. According to the POH performance charts, start, taxi, and takeoff requires 0.8-gallons of fuel. Aircraft retrieval personnel recovered less than 2 gallons of fuel from both of the main tanks and the fuel system was found to be intact. Safety Board investigators successfully started and ran the engine after the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations used in flight planning.

Full Narrative

On August 13, 1999, at 1914 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 152, N49100, collided with ground obstructions during a forced landing near Buckeye, Arizona. The forced landing was precipitated by a total loss of engine power during cruise. The aircraft was destroyed; however, neither the pilot nor his pilot-rated passenger was injured. The aircraft was operated by Glendale Aviation under 14 CFR Part 91, and rented by the pilot for a personal cross-country flight. The flight originated in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, at 1645 on the afternoon of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he was inbound to the Glendale, Arizona, airport at 2,000 feet msl when the engine began to miss. It resumed running a couple of times but finally stopped altogether. The pilot made a forced landing on a dirt road, striking a tree with the left wing, and finally nosing over as the aircraft stopped. The aircraft was last serviced with 20.8 gallons of 100 octane low lead (LL) fuel on August 12, 1999, by the operator. The pilot told investigators that he had computed the fuel requirement for the flight by using the fuel consumption chart in the pilot operator's handbook (POH). After a flight of 0.2 hours on August 12, 1999, the pilot estimated that he had 3 hours 55 minutes of fuel remaining (without reserve) for his cross-country flight. At the time the engine quit, the Hobbs meter showed that a total of 3 hours 36 minutes had elapsed (1,790.6 out; 1,794.2 in). The average fuel consumption for the fuel load was 6.8 gallons per hour. The fuel capacity of the aircraft is 26 gallons with 1.5 gallons unusable. When asked about his planning, the pilot acknowledged that his estimate of 6 gallons per hour had not considered the additional fuel requirements for his initial takeoff and climb, nor the seven other landings and takeoffs that he subsequently made since his last refueling. The POH performance charts specify that each start, taxi, and takeoff requires 0.8-gallons. Aircraft retrieval personnel reported that the fuel system was intact and that they drained less than 2 gallons of fuel from both of the main tanks. On August 20, 1999, Safety Board investigators successfully started and ran the engine at the operator's facility. All engine parameters were normal.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:14 MST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN49100
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorGlendale 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 27 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind320° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point10 C / 52
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data