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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

September 18, 1999 · Cessna 152 · N65602

Murray, UT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 18, 1999
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Murray, UT
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N65602
Operator
Edith E Steele
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN99LA165

The CFI was giving the student pilot a mountain checkout and after approximately 1.6 hours of flight, the engine lost power. An emergency descent and was made to a field and the aircraft struck trees during the landing roll. The CFI said they had approximately 13 gallons of fuel on board at departure and the flight manual provides information that the aircraft uses approximately 6 gallons of fuel per hour in cruise flight and approximately 3.5 gallons of fuel is unusable. Following the accident, an FAA inspector examined the aircraft and drained approximately 1.4 gallons of fuel from the tanks. He found no evidence of a fuel leak nor evidence of engine malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause

A forced landing on unsuitable terrain. Factors were fuel exhaustion and inaccurate preflight planning by the flight instructor.

Full Narrative

On September 18, 1999, at 1336 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 152, N65602, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing at Murray, Utah. The certified flight instructor and student pilot occupants were not injured. The flight was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91 as an instructional flight and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area flight which reportedly departed Salt Lake City at 1236. The flight instructor said he was giving the student pilot a mountain checkout and after about 1.6 hours of flight, the engine began to lose power. An emergency landing was conducted to a field and the aircraft struck trees during the landing roll. Damage to the propeller, left wing spar, fuselage, windscreen, lower engine cowl and nose landing gear resulted from impact with the trees. According to the pilot operating manual for the aircraft, approximately 3.5 gallons of fuel is unusable and performance information provided evidence that the average fuel consumption in cruise flight is approximately 6.0 gallons per hour. The flight instructor said he visually examined the tanks during preflight after he noted that the gauges read slightly more than 1/2 tank fuel quantity. He estimated, based on his visual examination of the tanks, that there was approximately 13 gallons of fuel aboard the aircraft at departure. The actual fuel quantity aboard at departure was unknown. Following the accident the aircraft was examined by a FAA Inspector, who drained 1.4 gallons of fuel from the aircraft. He found no evidence of fuel leaks or engine abnormalities during his examination.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:36 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN65602
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorEdith E Steele
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L2C · Reciprocating · 125
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 50 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point45 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time19:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data