# Accident 19970826023719A: Cessna 152, West Palm Beach, FL, August 26, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 26, 1997, 00:30 local time
- Place: West Palm Beach, FL
- Airport: Lorth Palm Beach County Gen Av
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.7208° N, 80.0701° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7208&lon=-80.0701&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6216Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6216Q-2013-04-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 152 (registry code 2071835, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Reported engine: LYC O235L2C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,250 total, 250 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL97LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA125) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970826023719A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ENGINE QUIT ON DUAL FLIGHT. HAD LANDED AT ORL FOR FUEL. NONE AVAILABLE. COUNTINUED. EXHAUSTED FUEL ENROUTE TO F45. (-23) CESSNA 152 DEPARTED FXE ON INSTRUCTION TO PAHOKEE THEN ORLANDO. STOPPED AT ORLANDO EXEC FOR FUEL BUT FUELING WAS CLOSED SO INSTRUCTOR/STUDENT PROCEEDED TO MELBORNE AND PERFORMED 1 TOUCH AND GO THEN HEADED SOUTH TO FXE. APPROX. 10 MILES NORTH OF PBI THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER AND HAD A POWER LOSS DUE TO LOW FUEL. THE INSTRUCTOR CONTACTED PBI TOWER AND DECLARED EMERGENCY FOR LOW FUEL AND WAS VECTORED TO NORTH COUNTY AIRPORT. SHORTLY AFTER TURNING NORTH TO NORTH COUNTY AIRPORT THE INSTRUCTOR DECIDED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT ON A DIRT ROAD DUE TO A LOSS OF POWER. AFTER TOUCHING DOWN ON THE ROAD THE LEFT WING MADE CONTACT WITH A MAIL BOX POLE DESTROYING @ 6 FOOT OF THAT WING FORCING THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE ROAD TEARING OFF THE N/L/G, AND PUTTING THE AIRCRAFT INTO A DITCH AND TREES. DAMAGE TO ACFT IS DESTROYED FWD OF TRAILING EDGE WINGS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL97LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA125), Aug 26, 1997: Cessna 152 (N6216Q), West Palm Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the flight instructor's (CFI's) inaccurate assessment of fuel available for the flight, and his improper in-flight planning/decision by continuing the training flight with minimal fuel, which…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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