# Accident 19970831029329A: Cessna 152, Zavalla, TX, August 31, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 31, 1997, 19:15 local time
- Place: Zavalla, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: ZTYS
- Location: 31.1509° N, 94.4091° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1509&lon=-94.4091&mi=10
- Aircraft: N89268, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89268-2013-08-23) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 55 total, 55 in this make and model, 55 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA333](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA333) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970831029329A

## Narrative

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

SOLO CROSSCOUNTRY. HAD TO DEVIATE DUE THUNDERSTORMS. NO FUEL AT OTHER ARPT. POWER LOSS. OUT OF FUEL. NOSED OVER LDG (-23) THE STUDENT PILOT TOOK OFF FROM ANGELINA COUNTY AIRPORT (LFK), LUFKIN, TEXAS ENROUTE TO POUNDS FIELD (TYR), TYLER, TEXAS, ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. FINDING IT NECESSARY TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE THUNDERSTORMS IN ROUTE AND BECOMING CONCERNED ABOUT A LOW FUEL STATE THE PILOT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT CROCKET, TEXAS (T-56). FINDING NO FUEL AVAILABLE AT CROCKET, THE STUDENT PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT OF ORIGIN (LFK) A KNOWN SOURCE OF FUEL. HAVING OVERFLOWN OR FLOWN PAST LFK THE PILOT BECAME LOST AND FOUND HERSELF IN THE VICINITY OF ZAVALLA, TEXAS. WITH INCREASING CONCERNS OVER THE LOW FUEL STATE ELECTED TO PERFORM A SECOND PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THIS SECOND PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED INTO AN UNIMPROVED AGRICULTURAL FIELD. THE LANDING, PURPORTED TO HAVE BEEN DOWNWIND, WAS ATTEMPTED; HOWEVER DURING THE ROLL-OUT THE NOSE LANDING GEAR SUNK INTO SOFT GROUND AND CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER ONTO ITS BACK. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE PILOT SUSTAINED NO INJURIES.

## 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 FTW97LA333](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA333), Sep 1, 1997: Cessna 152 (N89268), Zavalla, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper planning/decision, becoming lost/disoriented during the flight, and selection of unsuitable terrain for an emergency/precautionary landing. Factors relating to the accident were:…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.