# Accident 19980222001639A: Cessna 152, Gulf Of Mexico, FL, February 22, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 22, 1998, 14:24 local time
- Place: Gulf Of Mexico, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft: N757NK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N757NK-1998-08-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 152 (registry code 2071835, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Reported engine: LYC O235L2C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 7,850 total, 10 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA98LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA081) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980222001639A

## Narrative

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

DITCHED IN GULF ON FISH SPOTTING FLIGHT. CIRCLING FOR EXTENT OF FUEL RANGE. FUEL UNPORTING CIRCLING LEFT A FACTOR. (.4)THE PILOT SAID, ' HE THOUGHT THAT FUEL WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM DUE TO THE AIRPLANE HAVING EXTENDED RANGE FUEL TANKS WHICH HELD 40 TOTAL GALLONS AND BURNED 6 GALLONS PER HOUR...I DID A NORMAL PREFLIGHT INSPECTION INCLUDING, DRAINING FUEL SUMPS AND VISUALLY CHECKING THE FUEL....'  HE ALSO STATED, ' I FLEW ONE HOUR IN LEVEL FLIGHT, AFTER FINDING FISH, I STARTED A LEFT TURN IN WHICH I REMAINED IN FOR ABOUT TWO AND A HALF HOURS WAITING FOR MY BOAT TO ARRIVE, WHEN I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A POWER LOSS SO I BEGAN CHECKING SWITCHES, MAGNETOS AND THE FUEL SELECTOR, AND I BEGAN TO ROCK THE WINGS.'  THE PILOT FURTHER STATED, 'I SHOULD HAVE HAD TWO AND A HALF TO THREE HOURS OF FUEL REMAINING, AND HAD BEEN ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC/INSTRUCTOR NOT TO ALWAYS TRUST THE FUEL GAGES  AS THEY ARE NOT VERY DEPENDABLE.'  HE SAID HE RAN THE AIRPLANE AT 2,000 RPM'S TO TRY TO EXTEND THE FUEL BURN WHILE HE WAS CIRCLING A FISHING BOAT 35 MILES OFFSHORE AT 4,000 FEET TRYING TO SPOT FISH,  T                                                                                                              HE ENGINE STOPPED, AND HE STARTED TO DESCEND. AS HE WAS PASSING THROUGH 2500 FEET THE ENGINE STARTED, AND HE ELECTED TO RETURN TO LAND.  HE WAS ABOUT 15 MILES FROM KEY WEST WHEN AGAIN THE ENGINE FAILED.  HE MADE A FORCED LANDING NEXT TO A LOBESTER BOAT IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.  THE PILOT STATED, 'THE AIRCRAFT WAS FULL OF FULE AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF..'  ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT'S MANUAL THE AIRCRAFT HOLDS 35 GALLONS AND BURNS 6 GALLONS AN HOUR WHICH WOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS AND 45 OF FUEL ON BOARD.  THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT RECOVERED FORM THE WATER, AND NO DETERMINATION COULD BE AMDE ON THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

## 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 MIA98LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA081), Feb 22, 1998: Cessna 150A (N757NK), Gulf Of Mexico, destroyed. Probable cause: a loss of engine power due to undermined reason resulting in a forced landing, and an in- flight collision with water.

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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