# Accident 19980218001349A: Cessna 152, Americus, GA, February 18, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 18, 1998, 14:15 local time
- Place: Americus, GA
- Airport: Southern Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.0703° N, 84.2203° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0703&lon=-84.2203&mi=10
- Aircraft: N48878, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48878) (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: 107 total, 70 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL98LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA046) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980218001349A

## Narrative

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

LOST POWER NEAR DESTINATION. NOSED OVER LANDING IN FIELD. FUEL EXHAUSTION. CESSNA 150 AND 152 LIMITED FUEL SUPPLY. (.4)DURING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AS THE PILOT WAS DESCENDING TO LAND AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD BEFORE REACHING THE AIRPORT, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED. ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION OF THE ACCIDENT REVEALED NO USABLE FUEL REMAINING IN THE FUEL TANKS AND NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE.                         (-23)AFTER A 15 MINUTE RUNUP, PILOT DEPARTED ORLANDO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT (ORL) AT 1033 LOCAL TIME ENROUTE TO ANERICUS SOUTHER FIELD (ACJ).  AT 1356 LOCAL TIME, AFTER 3 HOURS 23 MINUTES FLIGHT TIME, PILOT REPORTED LOSS OF POWER.  AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A FIELD AND INVERTED NOSE TO TAIL.  INTERVIEW WITH THE PILOT AND REVIEW OF PILOT'S NAVIGATION LOG REVEALED THAT THE PILOT INCORRECTLY PLANNED FOR 37.5 GALLONS OF FUEL TO BE AVAILABLE, WITH A 6 GPH FUEL CONSUMPTION RATE.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS PROPERLY PLACARDED 13 GALLONS AT EACH TANK FILLER POINT, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS OF TOTAL FUEL.  ON SITE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO USABLE FUEL WAS REMAINING IN THE TANKS,                                    NO FUEL LEAKAGE WAS EVIDENT AT THE SITE, AND FUEL GAGES INDICATED EMPTY. THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AFTER FUEL WAS PROVIDED.  FUEL EXHAUSTION WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CAUSE OF POWER LOSS AND SUBSEQUENT ACCIDENT.  AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A FARMED FIELD 7 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTHWEST OF ACJ.

## 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 ATL98LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA046), Feb 18, 1998: Cessna 152 (N48878), Americus, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper planning/decision, which led to fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing on unprepared terrain.

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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